Crocodiles, Mandating—Big Game Hunters Go After

From the original in Spam of 25 January 1944

Despite the sceptical remarks of alleged big game hunters and others of the battalion it seems pretty conclusive that crocodiles do exist on this island. If you ask Captain Cotching or 'Jungle' Holmes or one or two others who recently spent some carefree days right in the croc country you will receive emphatic information on the point. 'Jungle' himself went to a lot of trouble to get one, reputed to be anything from six to 20 feet long, and it is on record that shots were pumped at one ugly specimen with the result that the bullets just glanced off its armour plate. It is also reported that a few grenades were tried, but without result, and then it was proposed to try out the anti-tank rifle (not a fair go). It appears however, that the croc knows as much about jungle tactics as anyone else, and he didn't present a target. It is further reported (sorry to be so indefinite about all this but you know how it is with big game hunters and anglers and such people) that there were two crocs. It page 143doesn't matter though because the field is still open and the hunters have yet to produce their first.

'What is known for certain is that one croc came down the river the other day and scared the devil out of certain gents engaged on their lawful occupations. Some shots were fired at him and he wisely took to the deep blue sea. There he was chased by the good ship Enterprise (Captain Hank) and a spirited sea battle ensued, with shots flying everywhere. As usual the Yanks went about it in a big way and permitted the use of machine guns, but it still isn't known if the croc got away or not. He listed it as "probably sunk". Not so long after Spam went to press with the above angling notes, who should walk in (or rather come in by boat) but Lieutenant C. E. A. ('Tony' or 'Barney') Buller, towing an innocent looking specimen of crocodile behind him. He sportingly acknowledged that several Americans and himself shot at the reptile simultaneously, while it was taking the afternoon air near Lake Akea.