Lost Australian/Japanese Battle Site Found

[Tankbuilder]

Hi there.

I just read about a lost battle site where Australians and Japanese soldiers fought in 1942 that has been found. Apparently weapons and ammunition as well as skeletons were foundthere. Here's a link to the story. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/100607/world/png_australia_us_japan_wwii

Cheers from Peter

 

[shawngehling]

Kool Peter,
Thanks for passing it along.
Shawn

 

[Spanner28]

Some discovery, this is unchecked journalism at it's best. This " undiscovered" battlefield was found mapped and plotted by Ross Clover, Phil Clover and Bill James more than five years ago on advice from vets and research of WW2 Maps by Bill James. This is covered in Bill James excellent Field Guide to the Kokoda Track released in 2006 so a discovery is hardly "New" in 2010. If the journalists had bothered to check the facts they wouldn't be trumpeting this as a new find. The local natives cleared a track in and were charging admission soon after the Clovers and Bill James "rediscovered it". Not much of a discovery when the trekkers guide has it listed and the locals are charging admission. What is not so funny is that they have disturbed the site and neatly arranged the japanese ammunition form its original placement. The whole thing was rather tawdry and reflects on the standards of TV Journalism. This was nothing more than cheap promotion of someone stealing credit for others work.
For those that don't know is that Bill James and others have done a hell of a lot of leg work and research on the Kokoda Battles and Battlefields in conjunction with the vets whom they have escorted back to the Track many times. They have done a lot more for the Track and our knowledge of it than some upstart ex Army Officer turned tour guide. So much for Integrity in the officer Ranks. BTW Phil and Ross Clover are both ex Army Officers (1 Commissioned and 1 Warrant)
Al

 

[BradJ]

Interesting news, and even more interesting truths it seems...

 

[moon puppy]

Much like the discovery of the H.L. Hunley. Clive Cussler is given full credit for the find when all he had to do is open the book written by Dr. E. Lee Spence who found it in 1970 and documented the find as verified by documents he submitted to the state of South Carolina and other controlling authorities. He even marked X on the map in one of his books.

Cussler threatened heavy political donations to a lawmakers opponent's campaign if that lawmaker, a one Glenn McConnell, who is chairman of the Hunley Commission, did not give him full credit. He did.

Fact of the matter is, the location of the Hunley was public record as of 1978. All Cussler's group had to do is look up that documentation and make a big show of searching for it.

 

[JSteinman]

moon puppy wrote:

Much like the discovery of the H.L. Hunley. Clive Cussler is given full credit for the find when all he had to do is open the book written by Dr. E. Lee Spence who found it in 1970 and documented the find as verified by documents he submitted to the state of South Carolina and other controlling authorities. He even marked X on the map in one of his books.

Cussler threatened heavy political donations to a lawmakers opponent's campaign if that lawmaker, a one Glenn McConnell, who is chairman of the Hunley Commission, did not give him full credit. He did.

Fact of the matter is, the location of the Hunley was public record as of 1978. All Cussler's group had to do is look up that documentation and make a big show of searching for it.

Hmmm. The Japanese/ Australian story looks just like sloppy work, Mr. Cusslers's on the other hand seems dirty and devious!

 

[moon puppy]

I stand corrected, Glenn McConnell and Clive Cussler are dirty and devious. I like it.