GUERILLA BANDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 305, 7 October 1942, Page 3

GUERILLA BANDS

AUSTRALIANS IN NEW GUINEA.

SUCCESS IN JUNGLE FIGHTING. HARASSING THE ENEMY. (Special Australian Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 12,10 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Australian soldiers who have been fighting behind the Japanese lines in New Guinea since March, have been invalided home. The men were members of units cut- off when the Japanese took Lae and Salamaua. They immediately organised themselves into guerilla bands and conducted “hide and seek” warfare against the enemy. Frequently they crept down from the hills and attacked Japanese aerodromes and encampments, blowing up runways and installations. They set booby- traps, laid land mines and burned stores and equipment. So thoroughly did they learn the art of jungle warfare that thi-ee of them were able to hold oil 100 Japanese. Armed only with tommyguns the Australians killed a dozen and then escaped. One night in June a party went into Salamaua. and killed 90 Japanese with Bren and tommy-guns, anti-tank bombs and high explosives. Surprised, the enemy troops rushed screaming to the beach.

It. had been an all-in war day and night, said one of the men. The Australian casualties had been surprisingly small and few-of the-troops had fallen into the hands of the Japanese. The comrades of the invalided men are still carrying on the fight.