The Apache sentinel., 1944-04-28
24th Infontry. 54th Coast Artillery Units
Are Making History at BougoinyiIIe

BOO(IA1N N1LIE.-tN Via Wireless
from South Pacific) Colored troops
of the oath. Infantry and the 54th
Coast Artillery, which is now doing
artillery duty, are proving to- even
the most Skeptical their effective
ness as combat units.
They are stopping the enemy in
his tracks and have not yielded an
inch of ground
Their fine discipline has drawn
many compliments. One general re-
marked that, considering their two
years in the jungles doing other
hard work, the men have taken to
combat weapons like "naturals'' and
the base is mighty proud of them
News of the oath having gone into
action has spread throughout the
South Pacific area. Maj. Gen. Leh- !,
man, commander of a Negro combat /;
force in this sector, visited our DO
sition. Whether this is an indica-
ton that colored reinforcements will
be sent here in the future has not
been authenticated as yet.
Brig. Gen. Arnold refuses to be
quoted, but one official remarked, .
Never can tell
Binding Fire Stops Attack
Seasoned by preliminary skir-I
mishes and coordinating efficiently.
these elements of the American de-
tense in this sector have successfully
thwarted vain attempts by the Japa-l
neSe to force beachhead
; The Oath refuses to quit its muddy
trac of jungles, stopping the enemy
attacks with binding automatic
fire while artillery salvos thunder
in the background.
The jungle reeks with the musty
stencil of dead Japanese bodies
which litter the boggy, bloody
ground.
Twice the enemy tried iilfiltra-,
ton tactics through our position,
and both times he left many dead
and others dying. One brave Son
of Nippon surged through and his
riddled body was later found well
ventilated. r.> t.~,.a.,. .-o..,
In eyer advancing waves the :
enemy attacks zand in broker, Wages :,
he dies, as our boys prove them, =
selves to. be masters of the. sibua-
ton. Our troops are keen of. eye !.
and steady of hand
Four Die In Action
AS we enter the second week of
combat action, enemy resistance has !,
quieted down. He may be licking
his wounds. But we know that he. :
is not through. His striking force
numbers thousands.
During the interim our troops dig
deeper into their lines and are watt
ing.
One desperate, though befuddled
attack by the japanese began on
March g. The enemy's losses num-
bered approximately 5000, while
those Of the American defenders
were under 800, among them four
Negroes, who were killed in action.
Our last death casualty occurred as
the result of snipers bullet fired L
from ambush. Our troops aided by
Ffjian defenders secured the area in
search of the enemy.
The morale of our troops scars
despite the long hours spent i'll
total darkness in jungles so thick
with vegetation that it is difficult
to use hand grenades. The strength
sapping heat in this area of opera
tions must also be listed as. a La
bility.
Our patrols continue to move into
the bosom of the enemy's positions, y
not only accommodating, but engag-
ing him when possible trl
The soldiers of the Rising Sun
have so far refused our challenge,
and the few shots that have been
fired by our accurate marksmen
have been at Japanese darting
through the bushes.