Fijian Wins US

Decoration

From Our Own Correspondent

South Pacific Base, Oct. 10.

CORPORAL Cakau Sailasa, of the Fiji military forces, from Natila, Bau, Tailavu, has been awarded the Silver Star by the commander of US Army Forfces in his area for gallantry in action against the Japanese at Guadal canal on December 28, 1942. ’

Cpl. Sailasa voluntarily served at the head of a patrol of US infantry, which was working its way up the Lunga River. After travelling abou,t six miles, the patrol discovered fresh /enemy foot prints. With utter disregard of personal safety, Cpl. Sailasa pushed forward and soon found three Japanese, one of them an officer, armed with pistols, hand gre nades and a large quantity of demolition apparatus. In the ensuing fight the Jap anese were killed and Cpl. Sailasa was wounded by grenade Splinters.

Natives on a lonely island “somewhere off the New Guinea coast” have organ ised their own Reo Cross branch under the direction of a jnative mission teacher.

When Red Crossl officials visited the island recently th£y were presented with much garden produce as well as a saucer full of shillings and florins con tributed by “time-finish” labourers.