Evening star., 1943-12-26

VI NdIufdI bedu1IeS
OF Island JungIes
A brighter aspect Of life in the
Southwest Pacific is glimpsed by 1t.
John E. Clark, son of william c.
Clark, Rockville, Md, describing the
beauty of some of the islands.
In letter to Judge Charles w.
Woodward of Rockville he says:
When I last wrote I was in Aus
tralia, the land of the kangaroo and
koola bear. Since that time I have
tourneyed still farther from home.
I am now at an advanced base and
airfield, on an island somewhere in
the Southwest Pacific.
Our base Is right in the jungle
1t surrounds us. The trees are
enormous. Some are hundreds of
feet tall. The roots start up as
high as 80 feet and protrude out
over 10 feet, forming a solid wall
OF thin wood. Some OF the branches
extend down into the ground many
feet from the base. These, with the
many long, hanging vines, make
any progress through the jungle diff
hcut when not impossible.
Many Birds and Flowers.
Birds are very numerous, the
cockatoos and parrots especially
beautiful, with gawdy plumage.
Butterflies and moths are every
where-some large and beautiful
Flowers abound. Among them
are orchids-the quite rare ones.
Recently several of us were in the
hills cutting some logs for a house
when a large bud from one of the
trees fell and hit my bombardier on
the shoulder, knocking him to his
knees. On inspection we found it to
be about 80 inches across, weighing
over 10 pounds. Sure was lucky it
didn't catch him on the head.
Nearby we have wonderful,
fast-running jungle stream. 1t is
quite clear and runs into many
pools-one quite nice, about 10 feet
deep. 1t does much to relieve the
effects OF too much heat and affords
fine place for washing both clothes
and person.
Camp on Clearing.
Our camp is located in a Kuni
grass clearing. These are quite fiat,
as a rule, and make wonderful camp
sites and landing strips. The only
work required in preparing them is
cutting the heavy grass and burn
ing"
The grim atmosphere of war,
however, is evident, as 1t. Clark
describes a visit to "the scene of
one of this theater's greatest pre-
vious battles"
ut is impossible to describe the
great hardships of the Aussies and
Americans who annihilated the Japs
here" he wrote. They fought for
months, deep in the jungles and
swamps, continuously fighting snip
ers and dangers alike.
To-day, after some time has
elapsed, all one has to do is step
of into the heavy growth and there
are found bodies, unknown, un-
named and untouched, left to the
care and covering of nature. In
the trees, in swamps, in puddles of
water, everywhere is evidence of
their terrific struggle and sacrifice.
Jap Equipment Left.
The trek and struggle across the
mountains was in itself terrific
adventure, comparable with any in
history. Ammunition. clothing, sup
plies, bedding, all lie as left, too
inaccessible to warrant salvaging.
Many Jap sniper outfits are dis
cernible with their rubber capes,
camouf1age and split-toed rubber
sneakers. Jap landing barges are
all along the coast, riddled by gun
fire, blown up by bombs, burned,
left to rot and rust out.
They, too, have paid great
price in men, much greater than
ours. The old saying that Japs
want to die and look forward to
dying for their country is true to a
great extent. AS I see it, If they have
a chance of getting SO many of our
men for half as many as theirs, then
they'll fight to the end, however
small their chances of survival.
If, however, chances of even loss
are not in evidence. they'll with
draw.
Wore Funeral Attire.
Recently some pilots of Jap dive
bombers and Zeros were shot down.
They were dressed in funeral and
death attire, complete to white
gloves-deflnite proof of fanaticism
and planned sacrifice for their
country.
Many instances where trapped
Japs have punched together and
held hand grenades against their
bodies to prevent capture are found.
To them death is an honor, but
capture, regardless of the circum-
stances, is a disgrace.
This fanaticism often results in
their slaughter
1t. Clark attended Maryland Uni
versity and was employed by the
Rockville post Office before entering
the service in September, 1912. He
received his wings at Selman Field,
La, in May and went overseas in
July.
Flying Cross Awarded