Evening star., 1943-02-11
Nipple
Continued From First Page

dead Japanese soldiers. You can't
escape it. The odor seems to cling
to you hours after you've left the
front; even after an ocean swim.
Army and Marine troops now
have pushed nearly two miles past
Kokumbona Village in continuation
Of their relentless drive toward
Cape Esperance, on the northwest
tip Of Guadalcanal. Japanese head
quarters is at Visale, only about IS
miles up the coast On the way
frontward We pass many abandoned
Japanese artillery pieces, anti-ar-
craft and anti-tank guns. Most Of
them look outmoded with heavy old
type steel wheels instead of rubber
tired as ours.
We see one good looking portable
anti-aircraft gun with large Ameri-
can made rubber tires. Close exam
ination shows it bears British
trade mark, 1t probably was cap
tured at Hong Kong or Singapore.
Several miles from the front we
see many japanese skulls and bones
but as we get closer TO the lines
the japanese bodies are Of those
not long dead.
No Time to Bury Dead.
Our advance is so swift there
hasn't been time to bury many OF
them yet.
These enemy forces are badly
surprised. They have not expected
the Americans to shoot their way
through. They anticipated an ar
tillery barrage flrst-according to
the orthodox rules of warfare.
Under canvas shelter IN the
Jungle one dead Japanese lies with
his open ration can beside him,
some food in his mess gear and a
bit still clinging to the chop sticks.
Another nearby was apparently
washing clothes. His uniform Is IN
a wooden bucket filled with water.
Nearby are his helmet and other
clothing, a bag of rice, bedroom
slippers and a white porcelain -
cup.
Along the trial are three Japa-
nese prisoners lying on the ground
under guard of an American
soldier with tommy gun. They
are so emaciated they could hardly
raise their bony hands to take Gig
arettes offered by Americans. All
three have malaria and have been
without food for many days.
American casualties move out
along the same trail. Part OF the
way they are carried on stretchers,
then loaded on ships. There are
few, however.
With the supply line open, cooked
food in containers is soon rushed
near the front.
Mail Great Morale Builder.
Then comes the mail from home
and troops coming out of the front
lines yell in delight when they are
handed letters. Mail is great
morale builder.
One soldier rushes by waving
letter.
Il only got one he yells, but it's
from her
A band OF Jap soldiers is trying to
make a stand only couple OF
stones throw from us. Their snipers
have tied themselves in trees. They
wear dark green uniforms and many
have painted their faces and hands
green to match. They're extremely
hard to see.
Other enemy soldiers are hidden
in holes at the base Of large trees,
in caves and pillboXes reinforced
with logs.
1t. Col. Norman O. Whiting of
Marietta. Ohio, former newspaper
man, just appears from ahead with
word that temporary obstruction"
is being removed,
Snipers around us on the trail also
have been cleaned out so supplies
are being rushed forward now in
volume
Some Army troops are coming out.
Their faces are lined with dirt and
sweat, their uniforms clinging to
them. They're weary, their feet drag
but many of them are grinning.
You can tell they are proud Of their
successful push. They've been In
front hammering retreating jap
anese troops for days and now
they're being relieved by fresh
troops.
Pvt. Charles Earlywine of Clays-
VILE, Pa, comes out riding a jap
anese bicycle he has captured, but
frequently he has to get of and
walk.