Evening star., 1944-01-03
Comdr. TunneyProve
He Still Can Take II
AT BougainviIIe
By SPENCER DAVIS
~ oH HNNIHV D1fVI
Associated Press War CORRESPONDENT.


Associated Press War Correspondent
ON THE NORTHEASTERN
FRONT, BOUGAINVILLE, Dec. %
Delayed 1t. Comdr Gene Tun-
ney, now trim 210-pounder at 46
years of age, still is champ so far
as one front-line expedition from
here is concerned.
An expedition formed swiftly
when the one-time boxing titlist,
now head of the Navy's physical
fitness program, expressed a desire
to see how the marines and Army
troops were taking it" on Bougain-
ville's jungle front.
Army officers snapped up his re-
quest-they apparently wanted to
see how he could take it" himself.
1t was to be conducted tour, and
a wiry, young liaison officer said
the forward command post was only
10 or is minutes" up ahead.
Hellzapoppin Ridge.
up meant straight up a hill
known as Hellzapoppin ridge. The
climb might have been made in 10
or is minutes by helicopter-but
not afoot.
The tour began cheerily enough
In a command car for Comdr. Tun-
ney and this correspondent who
blundered along. Guides pointed
out the Mount Bagana Islands, with
the only active volcano in the area
in the distance, and caves from
which the japanese were routed
with flame throwers.
Here was Grenade Hill where
pineapples rolled down upon the
heads Of charging marines a few
weeks ago.
There was the area where the
Battle of Piva secured the Amer
lean bridgehead.
The going soon became infinitely
rougher. The command car slith-
cred through unbelievably deep red
mud, then stopped, with the expedi-
ton thereafter hoofing it.
Led Through Swamp.
Liaison Officer Stephen B. Marble
OF Greenwich, Conn, led Comdr.
Tunney and his group through a
swamp at the base of the hill onto
a well-tracked trail winding through
dense jungle.
Banyans and giant tree ferns
we're natural obstacles, while hidden
roots along the sludgy trail tripped
the unwary who might be looking
tree trunks and mistaken them for
snipers.
There was an occasional burst of
artillery fire in the distance and
now and then machine guns ham,
mered out a few rounds, but on
the whole it was an unusually quiet
day on the front.
1t may have been coincidental
but it seemed that Marble was setting
an exceptionally fast pace. Comdr.
Tunney sensed he was being taken
Tor a rugged go" and said so.
Its only 10 or Is minutes more
the guide breathed for the third
time.
1t was an hour and 20 minutes
from the start that Comdr. Tunney,
wet with sweat, strode up to the
forward command post to greet
Army Col. Stafford Ordahl of Graf
ton, N. D., and marine Mai
Marlowe c. Williams of La Jolla.
Calf. 1t was Maj. Williams marines
who captured the ridge after three
aerial bombings and strafings and
$50 casualties 10 days ago.
Maj. Williams said getting sup
plies up the ridge was the toughest
Job-"The Japs weren't so bad; we
killed lots of them"
The japanese now were from 1000
to 1000 yards away.
Comdr. Tunney complimented the
troops, who clustered about him, at
their indifference to danger.
On the return from Hellzapoppin
ridge. Comdr. Tunney-remember-
Ing the long haul up-asked to lead
the party. He stepped off at lively
clip, dog-trotting some of the dis
tance, and soon had Marble. 1t
Jack Turner and this correspondent
putting heavily. Comdr. Tunnev
still could take it,"