Evening star., 1943-05-05
Russell Occupation
Without d Shot Is
Model Of Efficiency
Eyewitness Describes
American Seizure of
Strotegic Islands
BY RICHARD TREGASKIS,

by kICHAkD TREGASkIS,
| American Correspondent With United States
| Forces in the Southwest Pacific dis
tribued by the Associated Press).
UNITED STATES ARMY HEAD
QUARTERS IN THE RUSSELL IS
LANDS, February (delayeO United
States Army and marine forces to-
day landed on the Russell Islands
and seized strategic positions
through the island chain. No re-
sistance was encountered and recon-
naissance indicated there were no
Japs on the islands.
In short, it was walkaway.
Occupation of the Russell Is
lands off the northwestern tip of
Guadalcanal was announced by
the Navy Department in COM
munique yesterday
The first to land was a group of
marine raiders. The first units Of
powerful Army landing parties came
ashore at two other points within
the following hour.
oOl pldllC SOtCl LOOlllCu oSCi llCcA,
but no Jap surface ships or air
craft were encountered.
The Marine raiders captured more
than 100 drums of fuel oil and sew
eral score cases of food previously
left by the Japs in hurried evac-
uation several weeks ago.
AS we were coming in for land
ing. the night was at first moon
lit. then rainy. I was aboard a
ship whose decks were crammed
with Army troops trying to catch
some "shuteye." They were lying
in rows out on the deck. Most of
the soldiers slept on even during
the rain. lying on the bare boards
uncovered. They were tired from
the heavy work of loading for the
expedition.
Sail Into Cove Silently.
But there were some groups of
sailors and soldiers who were awake
and were talking. They talked most
ly of home and of places they had
visited.
Some Of them. however. talked of
air raids which we expected to ex-
perience on landing or soon after
ward. One soldier was the focus
OF a groups attention. He was
talking of bombs.
When you see the IS coming
right at you, what the you
gonna do and where the you
gonna co. he was saving.
In the ships wardroom were the
Army officers. A few were slipping
coffee. But most of them had
turned in for some sleep, curled up
on couches and chairs. BY 4 o'clock
IN the morning, however, they were
all awake and ready for the landing.
on deck the men were on their feet,
with their full packs strapped onto
their shoulders. Some also had
bulky lifejackets on.
We sailed into a cove between
coral reefs. We saw the white line
OF the surf behind us.
There was no bombardment from
our ships this time as there had
been when We first landed on
Guadalcanal. The silence was so
nearly complete that We could hear
the sigh OF the waves tapping onto
the shore. 1t made the landing
seem leisurely.
Soldiers Read Newssheet.
Most of the soldiers were aware
there were no Japs on the islands
and were not apprehensive. Some
sat reading the morning newssheet
IN the pre-dawn light Some, how
ever. were tightening their packs or
hauling their gears nearer the boat
loading positions.
Ahead of us the leading shins
we're turning. indicating they had
| reached the debarkation point.
Plumes OF light, blush smoke fioated
up over them.
We moved on. Some of the men
at the railings were straining their
/ eyes, looking at the even lines of
coconut palms ashore and irving tn
PICK out natives, but none was visi-
! bic.
Landing boats were leaving the
ships ahead, chugging toward the
shore, and our own landing boats
| thumped alongside of our ship.
I clambered aboard one of the
landing boats with the soldiers and
We pulled away. AS we passed the
bow of our ship, seven or eight
soldiers looked down vacantly from
the ship. One of our crew yelled up
to them you missed the - boat
Only one landing boat ran aground
on the tricky coral reef going ashore.
1t was ours. We finally freed it
after half-hour struggle when a
boatsWain skillfully reshuff1ed the
weight
Perfect Target for Japs.
Meanwhile men were watching the
sky apprehensively but there were
no Japs.
A few minutes later we came
aground onto the corally beach at
the. edge of coconut grove where
other barges already were standing
and men were busy unloading them.
Other men were waiting ashore to
anR AHR ,~.A