Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-30
QUIT RETREATING

InlS is the lODruK OF the IA
cific," and there are definite signs
that the japanese can't take the
daily pounding as well as the
United Nations forces.
Two armies and air forces areI
only from go to 100 miles apart.
or just a hop. skip and jump. They
must reach over the mountains
every morning or afternoon-andI
sometimes both - TO slap EACH
other around with heavy blows.
JAPS LOSING ZIP
The tip-off on who will start
back-peddaling shortly is that the
Japs are losing their zip, while the
United Nations forces are hittingI
harder all the time.
The "Nips" raiding Port Moresbyl
are turning away from anti
aircraft fire and also running forI
home when the Aussies, flying
American built fighter planes,
have warmed up long enough toI
get into the air and after the
! invaders.
On the other hand, Americana
divebomber squadrons roar across
the mountains to Japanese-heldl
Lac and Salamaua, on the north
ern side of the island. and plaster
their targets despite the "ack-ack"
fire and Jap fighter opposition.
ALLIES CAN TAKE 1T
The Americans and Australians
are dishing 1t out and taking It'll
better than the Japs.
Real heroes of the ground war;
fare are members of q gallant
little band known as the New
Guinea Volunteer Rifles. They are
supported by plenty of regular
Australian army units. of course.
but they form a thin line that the
"Nips' can't penetrate, and it'll
must be infuriating to the Japs
because there are so few of the
riflemen.
The rif1emen are Australians
and Americans who were working
in the back country on plantations
and in gold mines when the Japs
invaded New Guinea. They Just
stopped work. picked up their
rifles and supplies, and went into
the bush they know so well toI
sting the Japs like hornets. They
are strictly on their own, DAYS
away from contact with the out
side world.
TAKE JAP SUPPLIES
These determined guerrillas
even live off the Japs, raiding them
for ammunition and supplies.
A couple of days ago, I went
back into the New Guinea noun
tains to visit a plantation and
heard grand stories about the
volunteer riflemen.
japanese patrols start up the
valleys from their side of the
island and are never heard from
again. Japs strolling around their
camps suddenly topple over with
bullets through their heads.
One funny story concerned a
rifleman who looted Jap supply
dump. He laid aside his arms so
he could carry boxes and was tim
ing the sentry nicely so as TO get
in and out while the sentry was at
the ends of his beat"
MEETS A JAP
When he had almost carried off
all he wanted, he suddenly wasI
confronted by Jap apparently
on his way to see his friend, the
sentry. This Jap. like the volun-
teer rifleman. was unarmed.
They looked at each other for a
moment. then both turned and fled.
But the rifleman chung to his box
Of Jap groceries.
New Guinea natives on the
United Nations side of the noun
tains also constitute force the
Japs will have TO reckon with.
They don't like the Japs and re-
tain their ancestral desire to go
head Hunting. They're folks /
wouldn't like to meet on dark
nights.
Big and muscular and black,
they are fairly intelligent and de-
termined looking. different from
the scrawny Abbos on the Aus
tralian mainland or the natives of
Fiji. Samoa or Hawaii. all Of
whom I have seen in their native
habitatS
LIKE TO FIGHT
These natives like TO fight and
carry umbrellas.
Hundreds Of male natives on
the plantation ! visited were all
trained TO kill "Nips." They are
all indentured for two years, draw
ing four pounds OF pay during
that time. then eight pounds when
they are through.