AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE.

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

AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE.

RECAPTURE OF MYOLA. BUNA AND RABAUL BOMBED. LONDON, Oct. 6. The Australian land forces in New Guinea -are still making steady progress through the Owen Stanley mountains. They have passed Kagi tand Myola. A correspondent says though the advancing Australians are still on the Port Moresby side of the mountains, they have almost reached the highest ridge.

The communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters to-day says: “The Australian ground troops have recovered Kagi and Myola, and our advance is continuing in the gap in the Owen Stanley range.

“At Buna two formations: of Allied medium bombers struck at a small Japanese convoy of two destroyers and a transport off the coast, with unobserved results. Zeros intercepted and three were shot down. One of our aeroplanes is missing.” “At Rabaul, in New Britain, a strongforce of Flying Fortresses, attacked Japanese aerodromes, hitting runways and dispersal .areas with 12 tons of bombs. Strong anti-aircraft fire was encountered over the target areas. There were approximately 20 enemy Zeros, and in a running fight of 50 minutes four Japanese aeroplanes were shot down and others damaged. One of. ours is missing. There was reconnaissance activity only in the north-western sector.”

According to messages received here from the special correspondent of the New Zealand Press Association, Australian forces in tbe Owen Stanley ranges are stated to be six miles beyond Efogi, and about 1000 feet below the summit of the track. Possession of the heights would open the way for a further rapid advance down tbe steep northern slopes to the Kokoda area. It is increasingly felt that the Japanese are withdrawing entirely from the ranges, and that; they will not make any stand until the flat country north of the mountains is reached. The haste with which they left the mountains is evident from ‘the variety and quantity of abandoned equipment and supplies. The slowing down of the Australian advance in the last three days has been the natural outcome of supply difficulties which have greatly increased with each forward move. The Australians are determined not to repeat the Japanese error of outpacing their supply columns. Their advance has now reached a point more than five days’ normal march from the Port Moresby roadliead, from where native carriers bring forward supplies. High praise is given to the work of these natives, who carry supplies to the advancing troops and act as stretcher-bearers on the return journey. / The increased Japanese fighter plane opposition, particularly in the Rabaul area, is reported in General MacArtliur’s 'communique, is not unexpected. In. spite of many indications that Japanese air strength is lagging, the military • -correspondent of the “Sydney Morning Herald” suggests that appearances may be deceptive and permit other explanations. He says: “Any air position may change with astounding rapidity, and Japan may he deliberately husbanding her available resources for some new and unexpected blow. Nevertheless, it is highly suggestive that Japanese air power m New Guinea in particular should have dwindled so completely in the last few weeks.

“Although tin' Japanese may strengthen their air-forces in New Britain and the northern Solomon Islands, as weir as in the islands north of Australia. it seems unlikely, in view ol oil command of the New Guinea skies, that they will risk planes in northern Papua itself. The Buna airfield, aftei persistent heavy Allied attacks, is stated to be serviceable only for very small numbers -of aircraft, whose presence there would merely invite thqir own destruction.”