“SMASHING SUCCESS”

Evening Star, Issue 24103, 26 January 1942, Page 5

“SMASHING SUCCESS”

REPORT FROM PHILIPPINES EFFECTIVE ALLIED COUNTERATTACK (British Official Wireless.) (lire. 11.20 it.in.) -RUGBA, Jim. 25. An American communique received from Washington reports that a heavy Japanese attack on General Macarthur’s left (lank forced the American and Filipino troops to give ground with considerable losses. The Allied forces, however, made n counter-attack described as “a smashing success,” which temporarily stabilised the front and caused heavy enemy casualties. Jn their counter-attack the Americans and Filipinos charged, and the Japanese fled, leaving hundreds of dead and large quantities of material on the battlefield. Fresh Japanese attacks are expected.

GALLANT AUSTRALIANS TWO BATTALIONS ISOLATED GRIM FIGHT IN JUNGLE ° SINGAPORE. Jan. 25. Cut off from tho main body of the army since early on Monday, two A.I.F. battalions, some Indian troops supported by artillery, and some antitank units arc slowly rejoining their units, says the Australian official war correspondent. On Thursday these men ceased to struggle as an organised force. They were then worn out. had little food or ammunition, and were up against hopeless odds, and the order, “ Every man for himself, get back through the jungle,” was given. For more than 100 hours they had fought the Japanese from the front, the sides, and the rear. Many more, it is hoped, will return, but the sacrifice has been heavy. REFUSED TO SURRENDER. The story starts last Sunday with the knock-out of 10 Japanese tanks. The Australians had been pushed to the area to strengthen the resistance. They went into action immediately. All that day and night sporadic fighting wont on, but the Japanese had come in behind them. On Monday the Japanese pushed the attack with a complete disregard of casualties, and in tho evening the order came to withdraw. The Japanese at the rear wore in considerable force. They machinegunned members of the A.I.F. as they tried to clear the road of blockages. Carriers tried to break through, but the Japanese were too strong._ The troops sought Japanese permission to send their wounded through, but this was refused unless the whole force surrendered. This offer was declined. FOUGHT BACK FOR 15 MILES. All Tuesday and Wednesday members of the "A.I.F. fought their way back, and on Thursday made a concerted attack on a Japanese position, but were beaten off, and tho final order was given, “ Every mail for himself.” They then had fought back for 15 miles, and were only seven miles from a British force which had been vainly trying to break through to reach them. While they were cut off, the only communication the A.I.F. units had with their headquarters was maintained by three gallant signallers operating a field wireless set, but early on Thursday tho set was destroyed by a bomb, and one signaller was'killed. The other two have returned to headquarters. NEW GUINEA LANDINGS ENEMY NAVAL UNITS ATTACKED AUSTRALIAN FLYING BOATS IN ACTION MELBOURNE, January 25. Australian flying boats last night attacked Japanese naval _ units _in the harbour of Rabaul. Direct hits were scored on some of the vessels. This announcement was made to-day by Mr A. S. Drakeford, Australian Minister for Air. The Minister for War, Air F. M. Forde, announced that the Port Moresby radio had been silent since midnight on Friday, and • the Port Moresby headquarters military commandant, Major-general Morris, had been the only source of Australian information about Japanese activity since the New Guinea stations went off the air. Tokio claims that Japanese military and naval forces landed near (Rabaul at dawn on Friday. On the same day Japanese marines landed at Kaviang, New Ireland. STRONG RESISTANCE DEFENDERS PUTTING UP MAGNIFICENT FIGHT (Rec. 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 25. Mr Forde announced to-night that the latest developments in the Now Guinea area were: “ Reports received indicate that the Japanese marines who landed at Kavieng, on the northeastern end of New Englahd, in the Bismarck Archipelago, have wrecked all buildings not previously demolished by our forces. In the Rabaul area our troops are holding positions across the western end of the Rabaul Peninsula. Lae, the capital, ou New Guinea mainland, was severely dive-bombed and machine-gunned by Japanese planes on January 22. Evacuation of this town has been completed. Our militia forces were definitely in action for the first time in history against an invading force, but a proportion of the troops in tho Rabaul area are A.I.F. Although, reports of the actual fighting are meagre, they show that our troops are putting up a magnificent fight against the invaders.” Mr Drakeford issued a communique which stated: “ Last night our aircraft attacked enemy naval units off Rabaul. Bombs were droped and some hits observed in tho target area. One of our aircraft has not returned. ’’

AMERICAN REPUBLICS RELATIONS WITH AXIS iRIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 2-1. The Political Committee of the PanAmerican Conference unanimously approved a compromise resolution regarding the breaking off of relations with the Axis. Only the formality of approval by the full conference is required to complete the action. The text is as follows: “ Article One.—The American Republics reaffirm the declaration to consider any act of aggression by an extra-continental State against one as an act of aggression against all. “ Article Two.—The American representatives reaffirm their complete solidarity and determination to cooperate together for reciprocal protection until the effects of the present aggression on the Continent have disappeared. “ Article Three.—The American Republics, following the procedure established by their own laws and taking into account the position and circumstances of each country in the actual international conflict, recommend the rupture of their diplomatic relations with Japan, Germany, and Italy. “ Article Four.—The American Republics declare that, before re-estab-lishing relations with the Axis, they will consult among themselves, so that the decision may have a solid character.” The resolution is regarded as a major diplomatic victory for the Argentine) as it is a mere pious recommendation to rupture relations with the Axis and not binding anyone. Peru is the first to sever relations with the Axis Powers.

URUGUAY FALLS INTO LINE (Rec. 12.40 p.m.) RIO DE JANIERO. Jan. 25. The Foreign Minister, Mr Guani, announced that Uruguay had broken off relations with the Axis. LEAVING CALCUTTA LARGE-SCALE EVACUATION (Rec. 11.25 a.m.) CALCUTTA, Jan. 25. Six hundred thousand people left Calcutta by the East Indian railway alone between December 12 and January 20, compared with the normal 250,000. The railway administrations have prepared a precautionary joint scheme for evacuation, enabling hundreds of thousands of people to leave daily. TAKEN TO BRITISH PORT CAPTURED ITALIAN SHIP (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Jan. 24. With reference to a previous statement concerning Axis ships reported by the Germans to have sailed from Fernando Po, the Admiralty announces that British warships despatched to make investigations have intercepted and captured an 8,000-ton Italian ship, the Duchess d’Aosta. The Italian ship, which was in difficulties, when intercepted, has been taken into a British port.