ENEMY NOW IN NEW POSITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 28, 3 February 1943, Page 5

ENEMY NOW IN NEW POSITIONS

NO AIR SUPPORT

'By Telearaph—Pr«ss Assopiatlon—Copyrlaht.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 2.

The Japanese troops who were driven back with heavy losses alter their advance against Wav aerodrome, in New Guinea, have taken up new positions in heavy jungle south-east of Wau. Here they have established fox-hole and machine-gun nest defences. Australian artillery which was flown across the Owen Stanley Range is now in action against the enemy.

Our reconnaissance patrols have been active in selecting and indicating targets both for our artillery and aircraft. The enemy's supply routes from Lac and Salamaua have been heavily attacked by aircraft, and the incessant air raids have inflicted considerable casualties as well as destroying stores and ammunition dumps. So far the Japanese have received no air support, and though they have made use of mortars they have not yet had artillery in action. The present enemy forward positions are from three to four days* march from Salamaua, and much df the trail is steep and difficult. Though details of the recent fighting are still sparse, it is thought that the attacks were more than a mere raid in

force and that they are likely to continue in an effort to throw a protective screen round the important Japanese bases at Lac and Salamaua.

Wounded Australians returning from the fighting area state that the enemy have tried to exploit all their usual trickery. When a party of moonlight attackers were challenged by an Australian sentry they answered in ambitious but imperfect English: "All right. We are a patrol returning." The sentry's response was to call his post, and a fusillade of machine-gun fire Sent the enemy scuttling. While the Japanese were falling back after their unsuccessful attack large parties of them were trapped by Austrajians who had outflanked and got behind them.