Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-29

attack, was 1t. Ode Cook Of Asc,
w. Va.
Think I've got some luck with
snipers." said black bearded. 81
year-old Vincent Russo of Detroit,
in that group Of trees right over
there. This time saw him fall"
Usually they're strapped with
their guns in the trees so you can't
ever tell when you get them be-
cause nothing falls out" said John
Ollin of Des Moines, Iowa.
But I saw this thing in clear
moonlight" insisted Russo. II
watched their technique. There
were three Japs. They worked to-
gether."
Jap Marines in Sneakers.
Russo continued:
Two Jap snipers climbed tree
and made kind of hoist. The third
sent things up by rope to them. I
watched the whole stunt I could
see them filling their pockets with
what was hoisted up. Then they
threw out loops and ropes and drew
the tops of three trees together to
make kind of bower and cover
them completely. One fell when 1
shot and all were gone in the morn
ing, when I could first see, except
the dead one
On this flank the Americans have
been meeting principally marines, as
proved by the anchor with a five
petal blossom found on the ground.
But the marines also have splay-
toed sneaker made for tree climbing.
Suddenly single tommy gun
barked. and Immediately it seemed
that every ditch. tree trunk, ridge
and bunker burst with fire. There
was a fusillade in which the Japs'
return was indistinguishable from
ours. Then those nearby went over
the top. 1t was this force which
reached the sea-though rather far
from Buna Mission-shortly after
noon.
Soon the patrol returned with the
blue of the sea showing over their
grimy shoulders. They were in part
Wilson Glidden of Detroit, Robert
Liegeois Of Marinette, Wis Harold
Tigs of Grafton. Wis, and Ray Peck
of Green Bay, Wis.
Getting Into Stride.
"If you don't think those guys are
marines out there, here's proof" said
Walter Brown of Cassopolis, Mich,
and he handed Capt. Silver a battle
emblem
mo, keep it for Christmas" he
said, with the characteristic thought
fulness Of the American soldier.
Their patrol had been successful.
Paul Legerholm of Chicago sank on
one knee beside the captain and
drew out a cigarette:
TT will take time to clean out sll
those Japs on our TANKS. but we are
getting into our stride now he said.
Over In government gardens, there
was an almost continuous thrashing
OF tommy-guns
Standing later between the Amer
lean cemetery with its rows of
mounds, and the Japs' with their
anonymous sticks thrust in the
ground, this writer saw a wirraway
OF that high-hearted clan which is
often over the enemy lines, descend
ing in low sweep.
Jefferson Pennington of Chicago,
slim chap with clipped hair, had
Just returned from a ticklish trip
through the kunai grass to a patrol
pinned down by fire in the terrible
heat OF the high grass. Pennington,
despite sniper fire. managed to bring
them shelter halfs-half tents-to
protect them against the beating
sun.
Another soldier with whom this
writer talked was George Swan, of
Coldwater, Mich. who had been
over the bunker top under fire to
pull IN wounded comrade.
Japs Use Lateral Fire.
"Buddy?" Hell no, I don't even
know his name" Swan said.
The struggle for the main air.
strip was nonetheless exciting on
the right, or eastern, flank of the
Buna front, which is now shortened
in length on the sea to about IL
miles but is many times that much
walking around the circumference
In the last two days we have gained
nearly $500 yards of the main
strip although Jap snipers are hold
ing down the infantry following the
tanks, by lateral fire from the trees.
A high light was another bridge
which the captain watched being put
across the 20-foot broken place in an
old bridge traversing the wide marsh
at the open southeastern end of the
strip. In less than 10 minutes this
writer thrice sought refuge and en-.
gineers dove into the mud as a Jar
machine gun opened up on thu
hammering men.
They were commanded by 1t
James B. Doughtie of Murfreesboro
N. c. This Is opener country anc
the kunai Eass here is shorter
Australian tanks made some prog.
ress. The Japs possess several anti.
aircraft guns and high power ma.
chine guns and are entrenched ir
force at the northwestern end of the
strip. However. heavy pillboxes or
the northeastern side of the nearly
mile-long strip facing Semimi Creel
are somewhat less formidable.
Threw in Grenades.
But when you are obliged to spent
three long pauses due to machine
gun IRE on the ground-and only gel
shell hole for one-the climate Il