Evening star., 1943-07-03
New Georgia Landing
BY Marines Called
Masterpiece
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SOUTH PACIFIC HEADQUAR-
TIERS, June 80 Delayed "A Ma
rine Corps unit sent out in advance
of the American invasion OF the
New Georgia Islands landed on the
main island an hour before dawn
today without any opposition.
They didn't fire shot and weren't
flred on.
With special equipment for jungle
fighting, including colorfully cam
ouflaged clothing and long knives,
the tough Marines went ashore IN
landing boats lowered from larger
vessel few hundred yards out
Finding no immediate opposition
although the Japs were encamped
close by-they promptly started
digging slit trenches in expectation
of an air raid.
Two correspondents. Gordon
Walker of the Christian Science
Monitor and Walter Farr OF the
London Daily Mail. landed with this
dllN SAACAA oNSoNAANc "NHS
made available to the other corre-
spondents by agreement.
Masterpiece Of Operation.
Mr.. Walker wrote:
striking an hour before dawn
from a small craft. this unit made
the first infiltration of enemy terri
tory in the Solomons since Guadal-
canal. -" We were expecting con-
tact with enemy ground troops and
air bombing momentarily. The en-
/ tire operation was a masterpiece OF
amphibious operation, executed In
true marine style.
"A few hours before dawn we
we're forced to halve our speed to
navigate the interisland waters,
which are mostly uncharted. At
one point the vessel l was accom-
panying shuddered as the bottom
scraped a submerged reef. At an
other point we glided soundlessly be-
| tween a pair of islands hardly $50
yards apart
Expecting machine gun fire to
open on us at any minute. we moved
! thus for several hours seeking a
! landing beach as yet unapproached
by American troops. Natives at two
places on the shore lit bonfires as we
passed for guide purposes.
Troops Sprawled Out.
! Aboard our ship, troops in camou-
flaged jungle uniforms spraWled out
on every inch of deck space topside
and below catching catnaps.
Oficers sat in the wardroom en-
gagged in long discussion on base
ball scores. life back home and the
prospect Of having to leave good
chow and resort TO jungle ratlons for
an undetermined period.
once ashore. troops began dig
ging slit trenches for possible
bombing. setting up defensive ring
of outposts and organizing patrols.
- = The natives were predominant
ly pro- Allied and at the moment ma
tive scouts are clustering around me
reporting to the commanding officer
the location of enemy forces and
possible jungle trails and eying our
! combat equipment with gleam Of
admiration and longing.
Some sport Jap helmets and ri
fes. bespeaking previous encoun-
ters.'
Brought Along Murder Stories.
Mr.. Farr sat wedged solidly on the
deck OF his ship and observed IAN
extraordinary array of gaudy COL
ored gear moving through the
jungle"
Some OF us in our jungle rig look
more like people at fancy dress
ball than men going into battle he
wrote 80 AS If this trip wasn't
thrilling enough. some have brought
along pocket editions of murder
stories"
MIR. Farr continued:
I'VE nose in toward land stealth
lily yet swiftly. Flying fish play
around our bows The sea is calm
as an inland lake. Over the ships
loudspeakers comes the order: Pre-
pare to disembark!
Silently as cats the soldiers move
toward their boat station. No con-
versation. No hustle Equally sill
emily. the boats glide into the water
''' We swim into shore and Jump
across ramps onto the dry sand
beach. Not shot. No sign of the
enemy. Our patrols move out i'm
mediately.'