ADVANCE IN NEW GUINEA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24074, 9 October 1943, Page 5

ADVANCE IN NEW GUINEA

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS RAMU VALLEY THRUST (Special Australian ’Corresp.. N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10.45.p.m.) SYDNEY. Oct. 8. The Australians are continuing their spectacular advance along the Ramu valley towards Bogadjim 'and Madang on the north coast of New Guinea, and have made further advances north and north-west from Dumpa, the occupation of which was reported yesterday. “I think we have outclassed the Japanese in actual fighting as well as in strategy,” said an; Australian war correspondent who returned to-day by air ’from the New Guinea theatre. The Japanese soldier is*no longer’fanatical; he is demoralised, .To our. troops it is a perfect tonic to see the Japanese running. ' . “In New Guinea it is a corporal’s war —a war not of brass hats but of hard heads. The corporal and his men are the mainstay of our Army to-day.” Tfye correspondent said the present operations provided a combination of all elements .which were going to win New Guinea back for the Allies. These were: first, the courage and resolution of the Australian soldier; second, *the extraordinary technical qualities of the American engineer, whose skill made possible the recent landings: third, the might of the combined Allied air forces, which pulverised objectives later occupied by Allied troops. Enemy Driven Into Hills Speed and supply have been the main features of the Australian campaign in the Markham and Ramu valleys of New Guinea. Although unspectacular, except for the rapidity of the Allied advance through difficult country,- the campaign already bears the marks of an important victory over the Japanese. . Together with the earlier fighting in the Lae area, it has wrested from the Japanese vast territory over which the enemy had exercised control for nearly two years. For a small loss of life and material, the Allied forces have defeated the Japanese, smashed their supply lines,. destroyed or captured great quantities of stores and equipment, and drive)! the scattered enemy army into the hiiis. . It is less than three weeks since the Australians were landed from aeroplanes at Kaiapit, in the Markham valley. Their subsequent advance of more than 40 miles has entailed crossing the divide which separates the headwaters of the Markham and Ramu rivers. The Japanese have not offered serious opposition to the Australian drive since Kaiapit was captured. The last, major patrol clash was reported nearly a week ago, when 100 Japanese were ambushed near Marawasa. at the headwaters of the Markham river, 45 of them being killed. These heartening gains have been achieved only by the co-operation of the land and air forces on a scale never previously attempted in the southwest Pacific. The Australians’ progress, too, has been greatly assisted by the .impact of the earlier amphibious operations at Lae and . Finschhafen, where primary credit for the land victory goes to elements of the famous 9th Division, veterans of the Middle East fighting, who fought through terrible upland country from the north and north-west.

Native Villages Burned War correspondents report' that the retreating Japanese are burning native villages as they pass. Hard pressed by the swiftly advancing Australians and precariously short of supplies, their only hope of escape is, to reach their comrades in the north. Japanese stragglers sometimes make a traditional suicide stand. One wounded soldier removed his boot, put a grenade into it, and then pulled the boot on/his head. The grenade blew, his head off. The work of the engineers in the campaign is reported to be beyond all praise. In one day a party of eers marched 10 miles and built five bridges. It is now possible, to travel in hours over this ro&d where formerly struggling infantry took' days. • Members of the Australian Advisory War Council have expressed appreciation of the magnificent efforts of the Allied forces in New Guinea. ; The Priine Minister (Mr J. Curtin) said that the council realised that these achievements were not only due to sound planning, but also to the admirable discipline and the great heroism of the forces.

JAPANESE RETIRE IN CHINA OFFENSIVE APPARENTLY FAILS (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Oct, 8. The Japanese offensive has . apparently collapsed. Japanese columns have retired in the Langjchi area west of Lake Tai. Chinese guerrillas are increasingly active behind the Japanese lines. . v

American aircraft in China have been co-operating with Chinese ground forces in defending Chinese bases against Japanese air attacks. Mitchells attacked shipping in the Yangtse.

BATTLE FOR KOS

DODECANESE OPERATIONS (Rec. 9.80 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 8. A joint war communique from the Middle East says; “Although German, forces have captured the landing grounds and town of Kos, in. the Dodecanese, resistance by British troops on the island continues. ,

“Heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force oh Tuesday night attacked the airfield at Maritza, on Rhodes. Direct hits were scored on one of the hangars and violent explosions were followed by fires. Bursts were observed in the northern aircraft dispersal area on the eastern part of the airfield. An enemy encampment hear Kattavia, on Rhodes, was machine-gunned. Other bombers attacked the harbour at Gyros, hits on a jetty being observed; The' same night the airfield at Kastelli Pediada, in Crete, was bombed. All the aircraft returned.” “It is toot expected that every Allied venture will prove successful, in the Mediterranean or elsewhere, but there is no denying that the state of affairs' in the Dodecanese is causing disquiet in the public mind.” says “The Times” in a leading article. “The question is being asked why the garrison which landed on Kos should not have been stronger than , 1000 men—such is the German estimate—who had to face a strong hostile expeditionary force from Greece. “There is certainly a considerable friendly garrison, but, whatever the future value of the Italian forces, they have to undergo a period of recuperation and reorganisation before recovering from the moral and material shocks to which- they have been exposed. The Allies meanwhile would do well to rely strictly on their own strength and their own resources.”

WAR DISCUSSION IN U.S. SENATE

CONFIDENCE IN LORD LOUIS MOUNTBATTEN

(Rec. 9.50 p,m.) WASHINGTON. Oct. 7. Senator 8. C. Lodge told a secret session of the United States Senate that 1,000,000 American lives would be saved if Russia provided Siberian air bases against Japan. Senator R. B. Russell criticised Britain for passing lend-lease materials to other countries without giving credit to the United States. He suggested that American relief and rehabilitation activities in occupied countries should be placed under military instead of civilian direction. He said American military, economic, and diplomatic representatives lacked the guidance of a clear foreign policy in their competition with Britain. Senator Russell expressed confidence in Lord Louis Mountbatten’s ability, but said Britain had not 'launched an offensive from Burma, whereas MajorGeneral Chennault’s air force was doing most of the present active lighting against the Japanese in China. Howevqr, Senator Lodge pointed out that the Chinese armies were holding Off 15 Japanese divisions. '