SUCCESSES IN NEW GUINEA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23804, 25 November 1942, Page 3

SUCCESSES IN NEW GUINEA

Australians By-Pass Gona AMERICAN GAIN NEAR BUNA (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Bee. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 24. Three important successes in the New Guinea land fighting are announced to-day. The Australian troops driving past Gona are continuing towards Sanananda Point, five miles west of Buna. Cape Endiadere, three miles south-east of Buna, has been captured by the American forces. The Allied column which earlier overcame Japanese resistance at Soputa, has advanced deeper in the strongly defended Sangara plantation area. The Japanese defence continues to be unflinchingly stubborn, but the development of this Allied three-pronged drive further menaces their positions. The main enemy strong-points are now at Buna and Sanananda Point. A small

pocket of Japanese remaining in the Gona village has been by-passed by the main Australian forces, but they 1 are being attacked by a mopping-up unit. If the defences at Sananandn are overcome the Australians will be in a position to attack the western flank of Buna in support of the Americans. The fiercest fighting is taking place in the Buna mission and airfield areas. The Americans who are attacking here also had to sweep aside violent opposition to take Cape Endiadere. where the Japanese had well-prepared machinegun nests and had posted snipers in the tree-tops. This further constriction of the 1 Japanese defended area has resulted in better targets being offered for Allied fighters and attack bombers. On Tuesday the enemy positions at Sanananda were heavily strafed ■ and bombed. There was no Japanese air activity over Papua, but a lone Zero which attempted to intercept North American bombers on reconnaissaance between New Guinea and New Britain was shot down. Japanese Artillery The last stages of the battle for Papua are expected to be fought round Buna village. Here American troops are attacking the major strength of the Japanese force, which is supported by artillery. Reports from the Americans say that the Japanese have also been using nti-ircraft guns depressed to their limit as field-guns, as well as mortars with a range of 4000 yards. The correspondent of the United Press of America, now in the Buna area, states that heavy rains have hampered the attackers, who arc opposed to a marine force from Formosa. The Japanese are well clothed and equipped. Some of their equipment bears the 1942 stamp. After commenting on the marked Allied air and ground superiority, the “Sydney Morning Herald” says, in a leading article: “What is surprising is the absence so far of any mention of co-ordinated Allied naval support on a scale which would have cut off the Japanese line of retreat or reinforcement. Such support would seem a na--tural corollary of the Solomons naval action, Vice-Admiral Halsey, however, is not a man to neglect the fruits of victory. It may be that a truer synchronisation of his offensive plans with those of General Mac Arthur must await an advance from Guadalcanal; through the northern Solomons against Rabaul.” To-day’s communique from General MaeArthur’s headquarters also reports an air attack on enemy anchorages on the south coast of Timor by Allied Hudsons. The latest raids were against the villages of Beco and Raimean, just a mile apart, which were occupied by the Japanese only a few days ago. These are the first anchorages on the south coast of Timor to be occupied by the enemy, who is reported to have come overland in considerable strength from bases on the northern side of the island. The Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. Curtin) has cabled to Mr Roosevelt conveying Australia's appreciation of the “magnificent service rendered to us by your gallant forces in the battles of the Solomons. The association of our fighting men has been complete, and I value it. not only for what it has achieved, but as symbolic of the unity and determination of our two countries.” Mr Roosevelt, replying, said that he was delighted that the joint Australian-American forces were doing so splendidly in New Guinea.

JAPANESE ATTACKS ON SHIPS

NO “SUICIDE CRASHES ” (Rcc. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 23. The correspondent of the United Press of America with the south Pacific Fleet states; “Naval men declare that stories concerning Japanese suicide squadrons are plain bunk. The truth is that when a Japanese aeroplane crashes on a surface ship the pilot does so because he is unable to avoid it. The Japanese want us to believe that they train squadrons pledged to die by crashing on American ships, but this suicide stuff comes straight from the propaganda machine.” This was stated by a seasoned combat officer, who in two major engagements never saw a Japanese pilot intentionally crash. This officer said he saw three Japanese aeroplanes actually crash on ships. Two were ablaze when they struck, and the third obviously carried a dead pilot. "The majority of the so-called ‘suicide crashes’ involve dive-bombers—-which have little or no armour and catch fire easily. Often the pilots are killed before they are able to pull out of their dives or release their bombs.”

HAIPHONG RAIDED BY U.S, BOMBERS

LARGE VESSEL SUNK LONDON, Nov. 23. The Japanese-occupied port of Haiphong, in French Indo-China, has been raided by United States bombers. The port is an important naval and supply centre for the Japanese. The Japanese have admitted the raid and Vichy reports say that a 15,000ton vessel, either a transport or an aircraft-carrier, was sunk. Fires were started all over the dock area. Quoting reports from Tokyo, the Berlin radio said that American aeroplanes yesterday raided Haiphong. Forty-three persons were killed and 41 injured. Admiral De Coux, Vichy Governor of Indo-China, was present during the raid, and later inspected the damage.