The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-06
.GUADALCANAL
TAUGHT YANkS
MANY LESSONS

Washington, July 6. CUP -
American forces on Guadalcanal
learned many lessons which will be
invaluable in the coming struggle
Tor repossession OF the Pacific from
the Japanese.
!. Many of these lessons were de-
tailed in the Infantry Journal" by
Captain Gerald H. Shea, who gave
Interesting bits of information often
skimmed over in dispatches during
combat, which will prove useful in
the next island conquest.
japanese flyers seldom fly into
combat with parechutes, he reported
Everything possible, including "a
dos. are eliminated to gain better
performance. They use parachutes
On other missions.
The business of Jap self-sacri-
nee, by tying themselves in coconut
trees and shipping is, except, per-
haps, in a few scattered instances,
Legendary" he reported. He said a
tree isn't a good position from which
to direct harassing fire.
THE Importance of treating
prisoners well cannot be over
stressed" he wrote. Most of the
Japanese apparently expected to be
killed when captured Shea thought
kind treatment drew much infor-
nation from prisoners. He said in
terpreters should go with each lead
battalion, because information from
the enemy must be obtained quickly
and gotten to officers who can use
1t.
Shea saw a number of clips OF
wooden bullets for 25-caliber rifles
which baffled him. They looked
like doweled pegs, and might have
been experimental, but they caused
painful flesh burns.
No Cabling on Battlefield
The battle Of Tenaru River was
actually fought on the Ilu River.
Lack Of accurate maps at the time
caused the discrepancy In reports.
Americans still have much to
learn about dispersion. even after
Pearl Harbor and the Philippines,
Shea said. Troops still are too in
clined to gather on victorious bat
tlefied to swap stories, and there
always may be a counterattack.
The Americans learned to stack
chemical smoke shells on end. The
hot sun melted the phosphorus and
when shells were laid horizontally
caused 1t to run to one side, unbal-
ancing the shells.
Jungle fighters should all carry
sharp bayonets or bolos, and have
stones for sharpening them, as the
blades soon dull against tough vines
and bamboo.
Two canteens for water were the
absolute minimum.
Dent try to answer the phone
with your helmet on" Shea wrote
mo more sulphurous language has
; even been used on any one article
OF government-issue than the he'll
met-phone combination"
Hits Souvenir Hunting
Souvenir hunting should be con-
trollo dfrom the beginning, he rec
commanded. On Guadalcanal sight
seerU who had nothing to do with
the battle "came up with their
jeeps in droves. This jammed up
traffic and ruined the roads so badly
that the necessary vehicles we're held
up for long periods. Remember
always to have your M.P.s stop all
unnecessary traffic in the rear some
where"
The Japanese used no barbed wire,
but the Americans were ready for it
with bangalere torpedoes and wire
cutters.
On Guadalcanal the generals
were, without exception, much in
evidence at the front. Seeing the
Old Man in the thick of it with you
gives greater confidence to every
body" Shea observed.
When fired up by snipers move
Immediately to the nearest cover
or concealment," Shea wrote. you
will not make a very good tar
get while running.
When you are caught under ar
.tillery, mortar or bomb bursts, if
you are well dispersed, hold your
ground. Wild trimmings will only
cause casualties and confusion"
Shea said grenades arrived in
Guadalcanal painted gaudy yell
low. The soldiers had to paint
them green right on the battlefield
to lower their visibility. They are
arriving now from the factories a
proper green.