WAREO CAPTURE WAS ENDURANCE TRIUMPH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 294, 11 December 1943, Page 5

WAREO CAPTURE WAS ENDURANCE TRIUMPH

AJI.'S HARDEST TEST Japs. Resisted Every Foot Of The Way N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. noon. SYDNEY, this day. The capture of Wareo, the Japanese supply and communication centre on the Huon Peninsula, New Guinea, followed days of heavy fighting on the approaches to the 1400foot, horseshoe-shaped, razor-backed ridge on which the village stands. The Japanese stubbornly resisted every foot of the way and launched numerous counter-attacks.

Details of the battle for this enemy strongpoint are now given by war correspondents who accompanied the Australian troops. The Japanese had stoutly defended Wareo since November 26 after the Australians had driven them from Satelberg, seven miles to the south. Air and artillery bombardments " softened up" Wareo for the final attack, made last Wednesday, but the main factor in the enemy's final rout was the encircling movement, by the Australian unit which for two days struggled through the jungle to cover a map distance of only a few hundred yards. Terrain in the area is described as the worst encountered by the A.I.F. in New Guinea, and the Japanese apparently considered that it would be impossible to traverse this section of the country- They were taken completely by surprise and withdrew after heavy losses. The maintenance of supplies to the forward troops has been the Australians' greatest problem, and one entire unit, in addition to long lines ol native carriers, has been used to manhandle food, water and ammunition into the combat area. Each man was able to carry only a 201b load over the stumbling track. In the recent, fighting on Huon Peninsula Australian troops have noted a marked contrast between the physical condition of the Japanese officers and that of their men. The bodies of officers killed in action have shown no signs of privation whereas soldiers have obviously been on short rations for some time. The immaculate white gloves, scented soap and spotless uniforms found in officers' deserted jungle quarters imply that the Japanese officer rarely shares the discomforts of his men.