Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 16, 2018 17:29:51 GMT 12
Bombs And Bows And Arrows Used Against Japanese
By NOEL HOLMES
Auckland Star War Reporter
BOUGAINVILLE, Sept. 17.
FALLEN, with the cessation of hostilities, into the now-it-can-be-told category is the story of how bombs and bows and arrows combined on Bougainville earlier in the year in a strike against a party of Japs.
The result of this combination of ancient and modern weapons of war was the elimination of over 140 Japs, the credit being shared by a number of Bougainville natives and 12 New Zealand Corsair pilots. This action demonstrated once again the efficiency of what became known as the "Bougainville Underground Movement," formed of native inhabitants with pro-British sympathies. In guerrilla actions in the jungles, mountains and crocodile-infested swamps of this island they proved their inconspicuous organisation to be deadly in the extreme.
The first link in the chain of events leading up to the unusual combination of air and ground weapons was forged when a large party of Chinese slave-labourers at Kieta on the east coast, decided to make a break for the Torokina perimeter on the opposite side of the island, where the Anzacs were in command. As the Chinese pressed feverishly through the jungle towards the central mountain range, a force of some 60 Japs was despatched to recapture them.
Unseen Shadowers
There was a third party involved, however, unknown both to the Japs and the Chinese. Wherever large concentrations of the enemy were to be found, there also would usually be a few dark shadows slipping through the undergrowth and every Jap move would be followed by dark intelligent eyes.
It so happened that when the Japs bivouacked for the night in a small native village the shadowy company which had trailed them all day surrounded the party. The first the Japs knew about it was when one or two of their number strayed near the edge of the village and died silently with only a slender barbed arrow to show the cause.
These arrows were cleverly made. Some had two sets of barbs pointing in opposite directions. This meant that the arrow head could neither be pulled out nor pushed through to be extracted on the other side. Other arrows were notched just behind the head so that the shaft broke off of its own accord when the missile struck home.
Deciding that discretion was the better part of valour, the Japs dug themselves in, set up their automatic weapons in defensive positions and sent back for reinforcements. Their messenger got through and Jap headquarters, knowing only too well what had happened, sent out a relief force of 100 men. The arrival of these troops might have turned the tide — but they never arrived.
Only Ten Escape
The commander of the relief force made the mistake of leading his men up a valley. As they advanced, the jungle was quiet and still, but they were not alone. A bow string twanged. Then the air was full of flying arrows. Undisturbed by the wild shooting of the Japs, the natives made the best of a perfect ambush. Of the hundred Japs, only 10 escaped with their lives.
Meanwhile back in the small native village the original Jap force was still surrounded. They were running short of food but they were strongly entrenched. Probably they could be starved out in time, but such a tame ending did not appeal to the natives. After some discussion they decided that this was a "balus pek-pek" job.
"Balus," it might be explained, is the native word for pigeon and was widely used by them to describe the crooked-winged New Zealand Corsairs. "Pek-pek" referred to the falling bombs.
Accordingly, while the guerrilla force continued to keep the Japs bottled up, a runner threaded his way swiftly through the jungle towards the nearest long-range Australian patrol.
Corsairs Take Over
Little time elapsed before a radio message arrived at R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters at Torokina to the effect that a party of natives had bottled up 60 Japs in such and such a village, and the area was marked by three smoke fires to the south-west and red lap-laps (loin-cloths) spread on trees to the north-east. Would the balus pek-pek?
The balus were only too delighted. Half an hour later the guerrillas heard the roar of 12 Corsairs approaching. From grandstand seats in the trees surrounding the target they watched with approval 'while 16 500lb bombs and eight depth-charges wiped the village off the map. The final clean-up was almost a formality. Only six Japs escaped.
AUCKLAND STAR, VOLUME LXXVI, ISSUE 229, 27 SEPTEMBER 1945
By NOEL HOLMES
Auckland Star War Reporter
BOUGAINVILLE, Sept. 17.
FALLEN, with the cessation of hostilities, into the now-it-can-be-told category is the story of how bombs and bows and arrows combined on Bougainville earlier in the year in a strike against a party of Japs.
The result of this combination of ancient and modern weapons of war was the elimination of over 140 Japs, the credit being shared by a number of Bougainville natives and 12 New Zealand Corsair pilots. This action demonstrated once again the efficiency of what became known as the "Bougainville Underground Movement," formed of native inhabitants with pro-British sympathies. In guerrilla actions in the jungles, mountains and crocodile-infested swamps of this island they proved their inconspicuous organisation to be deadly in the extreme.
The first link in the chain of events leading up to the unusual combination of air and ground weapons was forged when a large party of Chinese slave-labourers at Kieta on the east coast, decided to make a break for the Torokina perimeter on the opposite side of the island, where the Anzacs were in command. As the Chinese pressed feverishly through the jungle towards the central mountain range, a force of some 60 Japs was despatched to recapture them.
Unseen Shadowers
There was a third party involved, however, unknown both to the Japs and the Chinese. Wherever large concentrations of the enemy were to be found, there also would usually be a few dark shadows slipping through the undergrowth and every Jap move would be followed by dark intelligent eyes.
It so happened that when the Japs bivouacked for the night in a small native village the shadowy company which had trailed them all day surrounded the party. The first the Japs knew about it was when one or two of their number strayed near the edge of the village and died silently with only a slender barbed arrow to show the cause.
These arrows were cleverly made. Some had two sets of barbs pointing in opposite directions. This meant that the arrow head could neither be pulled out nor pushed through to be extracted on the other side. Other arrows were notched just behind the head so that the shaft broke off of its own accord when the missile struck home.
Deciding that discretion was the better part of valour, the Japs dug themselves in, set up their automatic weapons in defensive positions and sent back for reinforcements. Their messenger got through and Jap headquarters, knowing only too well what had happened, sent out a relief force of 100 men. The arrival of these troops might have turned the tide — but they never arrived.
Only Ten Escape
The commander of the relief force made the mistake of leading his men up a valley. As they advanced, the jungle was quiet and still, but they were not alone. A bow string twanged. Then the air was full of flying arrows. Undisturbed by the wild shooting of the Japs, the natives made the best of a perfect ambush. Of the hundred Japs, only 10 escaped with their lives.
Meanwhile back in the small native village the original Jap force was still surrounded. They were running short of food but they were strongly entrenched. Probably they could be starved out in time, but such a tame ending did not appeal to the natives. After some discussion they decided that this was a "balus pek-pek" job.
"Balus," it might be explained, is the native word for pigeon and was widely used by them to describe the crooked-winged New Zealand Corsairs. "Pek-pek" referred to the falling bombs.
Accordingly, while the guerrilla force continued to keep the Japs bottled up, a runner threaded his way swiftly through the jungle towards the nearest long-range Australian patrol.
Corsairs Take Over
Little time elapsed before a radio message arrived at R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters at Torokina to the effect that a party of natives had bottled up 60 Japs in such and such a village, and the area was marked by three smoke fires to the south-west and red lap-laps (loin-cloths) spread on trees to the north-east. Would the balus pek-pek?
The balus were only too delighted. Half an hour later the guerrillas heard the roar of 12 Corsairs approaching. From grandstand seats in the trees surrounding the target they watched with approval 'while 16 500lb bombs and eight depth-charges wiped the village off the map. The final clean-up was almost a formality. Only six Japs escaped.
AUCKLAND STAR, VOLUME LXXVI, ISSUE 229, 27 SEPTEMBER 1945