JAP. LABOUR UNITS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 79, 3 April 1943, Page 5

JAP. LABOUR UNITS

FEVERISH ACTIVITY Chain Of Air Strips And Bases In New Guinea N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent SYDNEY, April 2. It is confirmed that Japanese labour units are working at top speed along the northern coast of New Guinea, building a chain of air strips and bases linked by a motor road. The bases begin at Aitape, but the major development is taking place at Wewak, which is rapidly becoming a second Rabaul. . Allied airmen who have repeatedly attacked Wewak have encountered increasingly heavy anti-aircraft and searchlight barrages on each successive trip. South-east of Wewak the Japanese are developing a new airfield at Bogia. This is followed in the chain by older-established bases at Madang, Saidor, Finschhafen, Malahang, Lae and Salamaua. An almost complete lull in the air war ruled yesterday. General MacArthur's communique reports only minor Allied activity in all sectors. The Japanese air force was completely inactive. There were no reports of any Japanese shipping activity. Obliterated Bismarck Convoy Hundreds of Japanese survivors from the obliterated Bismarck Sea convoy have been captured by Australian patrols on Goodenough and Trobriand Islands, off the tip of Papua. Many enemy parties have drifted ashore along 200 miles of the island coastline, and, in clashes with our watchful patrols, more than 100 of the enemy have been killed.

Allied air reconnaissance has kept a close check on these islands. When such reconnaissance showed that some Japanese had come ashore, special patrols were flown there to deal with them. The first group of Japanese survivors reached the shore a few days after the destruction of the Bismarck Sea convoy. The last stragglers drifted to the beaches 11 days later. Some had escaped in power barges which finally ran out of fuel and were carried ashore by the prevailing current. In all the skirmishes the Japanese i have shown their usual distaste for capture, but the treatment they have received when taken prisoner apparently has altered their attitude. It is stated that one young Japanese repeatedly said to his captors: "I don't know why you Australians are so kind."