Evening star., 1942-09-07

sluF VI tItr IsldIu. tf1IUuGIl Hills,
The ravine Is about so yards long,
IS feet deep and feet wide.
Japs Smoked Out Of Cave.
Several of our marines with rifles
were lying on their stomachs on top
of the ravine. Others were gather
ing brush which they threw on the
bodies of three Japs. They threw
| matches and lighted the brush.
They told me ii was to smoke out
five other Japs in cave in the side
of the ravine.
While I was watching one Jap
stuck rife out of the cave and
shot. The bullet hit marine in the
elbow, missing the bone Another
marine tapped him on the shoulder
said dressing stations down there"
The marine got up without word
and walked down. Another marine
took his place at the rife. Just then
a Jap walked out of the cave in
front of our eyes and seated him.
self on the path. He was laughing
loudly and little Historically. He
had full uniform but no rife or
helmet. Apparently waiting to be
killed drove him crazy. He didn't
wait much longer.
Our raiders weren't the least bit
excited. All they wanted to do was
kill Japs. Some of them had been
at Midway While we were on the
beach, Marines would walk out of
the woods and ask for a smoke. We'd
give it and ask how it was going.
The most they would say was "Okay.
Have to go back and get a couple in
there" I remember asking one if
our losses were heavy. He said
they've killed some of u.s.
The beach was sprinkled with the
bodies of Japs. Most of the Japs
were shot through the head. The
Japs were apparently veteran troops.
They didn't look very young Some
of their uniforms were much like the
marines except different colored leg
gings and cartridge belts.
Selected Own Weapons.
The marines were allowed to carry
whatever weapons they chose. All
had knives, which they spent the
night before the attack sharpening.
I remember one boy who must have
been Texan. He had twin bando-
lier of cartridges across his chest
and another around his waist. Two
As automatics in open holsters were
at his sides, with another in
shoulder holster. A long machete
was fastened to his belt. And COM
pleting his equipment was
tommygun.
The first night ashore the marines
occupied large building but decided
to sleep outside. and posted sentries.
The next morning they went to re-
enter the buildings and were met by
machine gun fire. Somehow during
the night IA Japs had got through
our lines and into the house. The
marines burned them out.
Japs hid everywhere. I saw one
in a tiny hole in a rock 1t looked
as if he had been born there and
grown up to fit the hole. He was
dead, sitting cross-legged.
The marines had lot of respect
for the Japs who wouldn't surrender
Sometimes the marines hollered,
Surrender, you -" The Japs
would reply, Come and get us"
No doubt about it, the Japs really
fought. One Jap colonel cut his
throat as he was about to be cap
tured. Another colonel shot him.
self. They wore ribbons of the
Manchurian campaign. Some SOL
diers had printed money marked
"Honan Province" and other tokens
indicating they were veterans of
the China war.
The Japs also carried money
printed for the Solomons on blue
paper with pictures of palm trees
and the words Japanese Govern
ment one shilling"
Used as Bait for Snipers.
I talked to one marine in the
woods and asked, How many have
you killed." He answered, only 10.
The others were killing them left
and right"
The marines let us wander every
where on the island, but we stopped
doing it much when we learned they
were using us as bait to trap