ON THE MOVE AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1942, Page 5

ON THE MOVE AGAIN

JAPANESE IN PAPUA

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August 16. The Japanese, strongly reinforced and equipped with mortars and automatic weapons, have resumed their land thrust in Papua towards Port Moresby. They are making strong attacks on the Australian advanced positions at Kokoda, 60 miles from Port Moresby.

The enemy is clearly' endeavouring to recover the initiative lost following the' successful harassing actions by the Australians a week ago. One report says that the Japanese suffered more than 150 casualties in the series of swift thrusts by Allied troops. ■ "The numbers that the Japanese are now using about Kokoda indicate that the landing at Buna was no mere opportunists' excursion," writes a war correspondent from an operational base.

"The present skirmishing is likely to prove the forerunner of ■ larger-scalr

actions for the possession of the passes through the Owen Stanley Range. The recent fighting has been in broken country near Kokoda, and the enemy has still to face the great natural obstacle barring his way to Port Moresby."

GROUND FAVOURS DEFENCE. Here the ground favours the defenders. Following the enemy landings at Buna .the Allied headquarters spokes-m-m ciia+pH that dffpnrp nf Pnrt Mores?r«m I»nrt attSk wnSIH bl made afone the Hn^e of the^ Owen Stanley Rani That line has ?ust been reached with the renewed enemy land activity in Papua there has been growing evidence of increased Japanese shipping movements to the north of Australia. For five successive days AmpriMjn Flvin«* Fortresses and rnXm hrSSI havehammered 2nomv c hsn«,W Pith^r on the mive S fn n?LSedPha!'boSs ?iiP«S» nf th?« nir an rf While the outcome of this air and the possibility of new aggressive .tacticsby the enemy to relieve the strain on the Solomon Islands. Significance is attached to the sudden transfer of Allied bombing raids from key enemy andiel SnS^^ 8 '" '** '^^ However, observers offer no opinions on the likely destination of these Jap-

anese transports with their accompanying warships. PRESSURE BY JAPANESE. The resumption of fighting between the advanced enemy troops and Australian outpost detachments in the Kokoda area is reported in the latest communiques from General MacArthur's, headquarters. Today's announcement states that "enemy pressure continues.".

Allied heavy bombers on Friday attacked a small escorted enemy convoy in the New Britain area. Bad weather hindered the observation of results. Of six intercepting enerriy Zeros, two were shot down and three were damaged. Our formation received slight damage and minor casualties, but all our aircraft returned to their base.

Yesterday Allied medium bombers attacked enemy troop concentrations, buildings, and other installations on the south-east coast of Timor. Large fires were started. Enemy fighters which attempted to intercept our planes did not succeed.