LAST ROUND ON

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 15, 19 January 1943, Page 5

LAST ROUND ON

BATTLE FOR SANANANDA

ENEMY NEARLY OUT

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 19. •The last round of the battle for Cape Sanananda has begun, with the Japanese groggy and nearly out—a disillusioned, shattered army," declares the "Sydney Morning Herald's" New Guinea war correspondent, Charles Buttrose. "The enemy troops who tried to stop ihe Allied force which on Sunday cut through their defences were in appalling physical condition and fought in tattered uniforms, with their boots rotted from their feet." ' American infantrymen, backed by Australian artillery, made the latest important gains. A terrific creeping mortar barrage preceded the infantry assault against the enemy strongpoints. When the barrage lifted the attacking Americans found that few Japanese remained alive. TRIBUTE TO AMERICANS. A high tribute to the work of both American and Australian infantry in the Papuan fighting has been paid by the commander of the Allied land forces in New Guinea, LieutenantGeneral E. F. Herring. "Although the Americans had no battle experience when they went into action against well-trained, stronglyentrenched, fresh Japanese troops at Cape Endiadere, they accomplished things which, for sheer guts and endurance, were unsurpassable," he declared. Lieutenant-General Herring said that the United States soldiers had been inspired by the example of their corps commander, General Robert Eichelberger, who had continually gone into action with his troops like any company commander. The Australians had profited by their earlier battle experience in many theatres of war. Three years of fighting had resulted in less efficient and less inspiring leaders being weeded out. .