CO-OPERATION OF ALLIED FORCES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24536, 9 April 1945, Page 4

CO-OPERATION OF ALLIED FORCES

SUCCESSFUL. COUNTERING OF ATTACK JAPANESE ON BOUGAINVILLE (RNZ.AF. Official News Service.) BOUGAINVILLE, April 6. . An Anzac team operating on Bougainville demonstrated once again the worth of close co-operation between air and ground forces, when the second serious Japanese attack to be made in 10 days was decisively countered. As in the first attack, which took place after Easter, the clash occurred along the approach to the Hongorai river, which the Japanese obviously are determined to hold at all costs. The battle began before dawn yesterday, when screaming Japanese advanced along the Huru Huru road to throw themselves in a suicidal attack against strongly defended positions on Slater’s Knoll. As the Vickers guns mowed them down, the Japanese continued to press forward, mounting themselves against a barbed wire perimeter defence, in their eagerness to come within bayonet reach of the Australians. Bright moonlight helped the Australian gunners, and by daylight the Japanese had retreated into the valley, whence they sent over mortar fire. They were engaged by Are from the artillery and Fiat guns, equivalent to the bazooka, and the arrival of Matilda tanks sent the Japanese fleeing back over the ridge and through a field of fire covered by the defenders. Australian forward elements were also being attacked, and although full details are not yet known, a message has been received stating that the situation is well in hand, and that the defenders are completely happy. During the day of this battle. New Zealand Corsairs flew 54 sorties, bombing and strafing on targets indicated by the Australian mortars. Beyond the front line, fighter-bombers were given an open ticket to search out and strike at Japanese reinforcements and equipment wherever they were to be found. An Australian war correspondent on the spot said; “The whole area was raked by thousand-pounders. Japanese running for their lives were strafed. An ammunition dump blew uo with terrific force, and one gun which had been worrying us was silenced. It is impossible to exaggerate the effect of this sunport to our troops.” Late in the afternoon, .152 members of the infamous 6th Japanese Division, which first sprang into prominence by the rape of Nanking, were counted dead on Slater’s Knoll, and probably many more of the 1000 Japanese believed to have taken part in the attack were wounded bv the defenders’ smashine blows from the air and the ground It is not known how long the Japanese may continue the attack In defence of their line along the Hongorai, but their losses vesterday, in conjunction with the estimated 500 casualties over Easter have serjonslv hmited th°ir resources, The deterioration is being furthered by continued attacks by Corsairs. i