AUSTRALIANS PUSH BACK JAPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 106, 31 October 1942, Page 7

AUSTRALIANS PUSH BACK JAPS

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 30. Allied troops have made bayonet assaults against Japanese strongposts near Alola, on the Owen Stanley Range, and have driven the enemy from his advanced positions. Twenty prisoners were taken in fierce hand-to-hand fighting. It is believed that the enemy also lost considerable numbers in killed and wounded.

The attack was made at dusk yesterday, and today's communique from General Mac Arthur's headquarters states that the Allied advance continues.

How much trail distance has been gained is not revealed. The most important development is that the enemy has finally been dislodged from the prepared positions which he has held tenaciously for more than a week in the face of unremitting Allied pressure.

The action was the first in the New Guinea campaign in which General Headquarters has made official reference to the use of the bayonet.

War correspondents stress the difficulties which confront the attackers. Unceasing heavy rain has seriously hampered the Allied supply over the Port Moresby-Buna track, which in the area of the fighting seems to cling to the precipitous mountain face and affords only limited opportunity for the flanking attacks which have repeatedly "softened" the enemy positions. In addition the persistently thick weather has prevented the' Allies from exploiting their air superiority. Havoc planes yesterday made strafing and bombing raids along the enemy supply route. The Japanese responded with a night raid on Port Moresby by two planes. Only slight damage was done.