The Glasgow courier., 1943-01-21
Glasgow Fighters in
Successful Campaign
Break Jap Resistance
TWO LOCAL OFFICERS GET MENTION
IN NEWS AFTER BIG MOP-UP
ON NEW GUINEA

at Fort Peck. Two brothers are en-
ployed in Glasgow. Captain Arm
strong was a postoffice employe be-
fort he and other Glasgow men
were lnducted into the army of the
United States Sept. 16. 1910.
Lieutenant Peterson is the son of
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles E. Peterson.
VINO operate the Peterson mortuary
here.
Old Commander Pleased
Perhaps as pleased as any by the
news of the officers was their old
company commander, Lieut.. Col.
Carl E. HammernesS, who saw ac-
tive service on both the Mexican
border and in France. He recruited
both the officers and recommended
tnem Tor their commissions.
For almost a week now, special
dispatches from New Guinea have
told OF the leading role the Mon
tananS have taken in smashing the
Japs in New Guinea.
A delayed dispatch mentioning
Captain Armstrong, dated Jan. 19.
opened this way:
THE commander of the. American
forces who today smashed at the
shattered left side of the main Jap
defense line of Sanananda track sat
pack on his cot for the first time
IN a busy and successful day and
broke out in a broad and contented
grin.
We accomplished today what we
had thought might take us longer,
he said. And we did so at the cost
OF fewer casualties than we had in
cases OF heat proStration.
we used lots of artillery and
lots OF mortar ammunition i but we
dld SO at a saving of lots of Amer
lcan lives"
Open Big Assault
The article relates how a full
scale assault opened at 8:57 a. m.
with a laundering artillery and NOR
Jar barrage under which 1.-The in
fantry advanced smoothly as the
mortar range was raised"
BY late afternoon. it continues,
United States troops had cleaned up
pocket of enemy resistance be-
,Ween the main and advanced AM
erlcan holdings; killed we'll over a
JapS; pushed through and
around the left side of what was
considered the strongest Jap de-
lenses. short of Sanananda point:
md outflanked and begun mopup
If the right side of that line. which
las swamp at its back.
The story goes on, peppered with
he rameS of many Montana men
nd officers in the 41st Division.
'hich more than a week ago, along
nth the 32nd, was praised in
pecial communique issued by Gen
raj Douglas Macarthur in Mel
ourne.
Armstrong; Part
The Glasgow officers part In the
attack is told in these
ordS:
While the main attack was being
lrried out, companies under CaptS.
yron Armstrong, lean, keen-faced
ond of Glasgow, Mont, and Ed
cams of Billings, Mont, were as
gned the task of cleaning the
Ups from wooded pocket between
e original Higgins roadblock and
e forward area
AT 3:45 p. m. Reams' company re-
'rted its Jap perimeter all cleaned
}. Armstrong reported six sniperS
I'd been killed, three or four more
obably killed, and a machine gun
st wiped out.
'Thirty-five minutes later their
ca was also cleared of concen-
ated resistance. Then. without
en- stopping for chow, they had to
back in patrol lines to make sure
ere were no isolated snipers left
1t was day of beautiful
and timing"
The first dispatch reaching here
lde no mention of Lieutenant
ws magazine indicated that he
10 received mention in news
'ries from New Guinea and his
)ther said I'VE know from his
ters he is Byron's right hand
m"
Under Worst Conditions
All Glasgow had pride in the
lievementS of their men, fighting
der what have been said to be the
rSt jungle conditions encountered
ywhere in the world 1t has been
supported by two fac
s-a well-organized air trans
t system that has ferried troops
/ supplies from Australia and the
H. like the Montanans, who have
ok Stubbornly. Time magazine
week told this story in detail.
heir old commander, Colonel
mmerness said, Anything you
ut to quote me as saying about
Sc officers and all those men
lldn't be enough"
lie recalled how Bud" Peterson
the company mascot even before
was old enough to join. Then,
II that time, military activities
e been an absorbing interest.
h he and Captain Armstrong