Evening star., 1944-03-21
laps Fought Fierce|y
To Drive Americans
Off Bougainvi||e Isle
BY NERN HAUGLAND,

BY NERN HAUGLAND.
Associated Press War Correspondent
BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND. THE
SOLOMONS, Mar. II Delayed -
tJabbering and shouting japanese
attacked an Illinois unit of the 37th
Division today.
They attacked at the same point
the enemy heavily assaulted We'd
nesday. The Americans held fast,
despite some frightful hours in the
darkness. They were outnumbered
and nearly surrounded Artillery
thundered against the japanese
positions and at daylight the at
tack leSsened.
This was the last phase of the
Japanese offensive against the
American perimeter at Empress
Augusta Bay. The enemys suicidal
mass attacks of the offensive which
began March 8 ended, Gen. Doug
las Macarthur said, with his forma-
tionS dispersed and decimated')
Tanks Help Rout Japs.
| At mldmorning tanks helped the
infantry wipe out the attackers in
an hours furious fighting. In the
afternoon the tanks returned to
hit the remnants of the Japanese
beyond the American defense
perimeter.
One hundred and ninety-five
japanese dead were buried after
the one-day engagement, said Mai.
Gen. Robert S. Beightler of Colum-
bus, Ohio, commander of the divi-
sion. American losses were / killed
and II wounded.
Dominic J. Verdi Brooklyn, N. Y.
Crank ungiven and Pvt. Harold
Muller. jamestown, N. Oak, valiant
ly defended their vital forward pill
box. They were surrounded several
hours.
The japanese came up a ravine
in squad columns against the pill
box from S am. to 7 am. They used
knee mortars against the two
Americans, who had one Browning
automatic rifle. which they took
turns using, and one rife.
When the pair we're relieved, So
enemy dead lay around their pill
box.
Messed Up That Battalion.
Gen. Beightler went into the
front-line action with Col. John
D. Frederick of Springfield, Ill,
regimental commander, while the
japanese were popping out of their
tronnhnC H.
I'VE sort of messed up that bat
talon, and that just about finishes
that Jap regiment" the general
said. Their attempt was abortive.
They weren't nearly as aggressive
as they were yesterday
1t. Gen. Millard F. Harmon, COM
mander of South Pacific Ground
Forces, conferred with Maj. Gen.
Oscar Griswold, commander of the
troops on Bougainville, and at q |
press conference commended Gen.
Griswold and the officers and forces
under the latter's control.
1t. Col. Preston j. Hundley of
Aurora, ILL.,, and 1t. Col. A. F.. Fire
baugh, Danville, ILL.,, battalion COM
manders, said the japanese crawled
over and around several advanced
pillboxes.
One officer said the japanese still
have possibly 5000 men facing the
perimeter and probably would make
another strong attack.
I witnessed this mornings fire
fight iE the company of two news
men, Capt. Reginald Jackson of the
Toledo (Ohio) News Bee and Tech.
Sergt. Robert B. Jackson, New York
City, of the Saturday Review OF
Literature
With artillery pounding the Japa-
nese rear and machine guns and
rifles cracking all around, we
streaked across a danger zone and
leaped feet first into the 'front.' line
trench leading into a pilibox hold
ing a 37-mm. antitank gun being
used against japanese personnel.
We had a pretty rugged night
in here" said Pfc. Edward M. JOY
ner of Dallas, Tex. Twelve of us
spent the night in this hole and the
japanese were prowling all around.
We kept firing at them and they
kept trying to toss grenades In.
They were American grenades, too.
Like Chickens Crossing Road.
They kept coming like chickens
crossing the road" added Pfc Mel
ben Hartmann of Chester, III.
AT $50 am. platoon of light
and medium tanks. led by 1t. Will
liam E. Sheehy of Poughket p,le.
N. Y, arrived, the first passing IS
feet on the left of our pillbox and
opening fire with its Is and 37-mm.
cannons as it came alongside.
Behind each tank came infantry
men crouching carefully and open
ing fire every time a japanese
showed, which was frequently.
After the tanks pounded each
group OF trenches or root nideouts,
the infantry, led by 1t. RoLert W.
Curry Of White Sulpur Springs,
w, Va, went in with rifles and
grenadeS. 1t seemed impossible anv
one could survive close tank fire
but from every enemy group Cne
survivor was bound to jump up with
grenade. One leaped up near
Gen. Beightler. but before he could
toss his grenade bullets killed him.
Glad He Played Basket Ball.
Two hundred infantrymen cau-
tiously advanced across a 1O0-yard
lone enemy held sector with Pfc.
Raymond Vozzelli of Philadelphia
Pvts. Chester Elmore of Chicago
and Chester Williams of Philadel-
phla constantly in the forefront
with 1t. Curry.
The best and most daring grenade
tOsSer was Pfc Morris Gabow of
Philadelphia who was co-captain
OF his high school basket ball team
and who played also at Temple Uni
'erslty. Boy, am I glad I took up
basket ball" shouted Pfc. GaboW
each time he tossed another pine
apple into another trench.
AT am, after furious bursts
around the tree roots. infantrymen
went into a hole and brought out
a japanese heavy machine gun.