ATTACK ON BUNA

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 December 1942, Page 5

ATTACK ON BUNA

“TOUGH PROPOSITION”

MORE STRONGHOLDS TAKEN (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) SYDNEY, December 22. Allied tanks, artillery, and lowflying bombers are blasting a way through the complicated and formidable Japanese defence system in the Buna area. Already 15 enemy strongpoints have been captured. These defences blocking the way to the main Buna airstrip are described as of the “bunker” type, supported by connecting concrete and steel emplacements. An Allied headquarters spokesman said to-day that our advance was proving “a tough proposition.” Thir-teen-ton American-built General Stuart tanks, manned by Australian crews, which are playing the mam part in smashing the Buna defences, were responsible for the capture of a nsw airstrip built by the enemy as an extension to the Buna airfield some months ago, but never used. The tanks have now driven a wedge into the more powei Lui defences protecting the second airstrip. Although classed as a light tank, the General Stuarts have proved heavy enough to crush Japanese pill-boxes and log stockades which have withstood several weeks of aerial and artillery bombardment. Their 27-millimetre cannon and machine-guns blasted the enemy strongpoints at point-blank range. The use of tanks came as a stunning surprise to the Japanese, who evidently believed it impossible to transport heavy armoured fighting vehicles to the fortress area or to employ them there on the swampy ground. The enemy had no anti-tank guns, but quickly overcame his bewilderment and attempted to burn out the tanks with flame-throwers similar to those captured at Milne Bay in August. Their efforts were entirely without success. Some of the Japanese jumped on the sides of the tanks and tried to shoot the crews through the vision, slits. They were speedily disposed of by the supporting Allied infantry. It was the infantry, with bayonets, tommyguns, and grenades, who did the actual mopping-up after the tanks had driven the Japanese into the open. “The unexpected use of tanks as a truly secret weapon was a tactical masterpiece,” writes the New Guinea war correspondent of the Sydney “Suh.” “Without them the 1500 yaras advance would have been much more costly in Allied casualties.” HEAVY CASUALTIES While the Americans are attacking the remaining enemy strongpoinis in the airfield area, the Australians are advancing against the Buna mission, 3000 yards away, and protected by heavy defences. Havocs, supporting this operation, dropped more than 200 fragmentation bombs on the Japanese positions. Though heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy, the Allied gains of the last few days have not been cheaply made. There have been many instances of fanatical resistance by small groups of Japanese. The enemy has used ail of his old tricks. When a photographer of the magazine “Life” leaned over a trench to snap a Japanese victim of our advance, he heard a shot. It had been fired by one nearby group of Americans when they saw the apparently dead Japanese sit up. One little enemy private gave himself up quite cheerfully, but he was an exception—and then a Japanese sniper attempted to shoot his surrendering comrade. In the Gona sector our patrols have been active. Near the Amboga River they released 200 Rabaul natives brought to Papua as carriers. Warnings against over-estimating the importance of recent Allied gains in Papua are given by several authorities. The Australian Army Minister (Mr Forde) declared that although the Japanese had been checked in their southward drive and suffered considerable losses all the indications were that they would come back in strength at the Allies in the South-west Pacific. It war; doubtful if the turning point in the war against Japan in this theatre had yet been reached. Mr Forde revealed that the Australian Army was now approaching its maximum strength.

“General MacArthur’s dramatic Papuan drive gives the Allies merely tactical advantages,” says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times." “Unless It is followed up by a northward drive it will not constitute a real victory. Our only achievement is the seizing of the initiative. However, the Allies south Pacific successes did made possible General Waveil’s attack in Burma.” SIR T. BLAMEY’S MESSAGE. (Rec. noon) SYDNEY Dec. 23. Congratulations on the recent successes “which are but the forerunners of a great offensive action which will bring victory to our cause and peace to the Pacific,” arc contained in an order of the day issued by Gen. Blarney as a Christmas greeting to Australian and American troops in the South-west Pacific area. The order goes on to warn the troops of the “hard, bitter” fighting ahead.

JAP. AERIAL LOSS

(X.Z.I’.A. Special Australian Correspondent)

SYDNEY, December 22. Allied headquarters to-day announced that swift retribution overtook Japanese airmen responsible for a recent shameful bombing of an Allied frontline hospital in Papua. The attack was made by seven divebombers. escorted by two Zeros. The formation, in returning to its base, encountered a squadron of Airacrobas. The Allied pilots, who were on routine patrol duty, and were unaware of the Japanese bombing of the hospital, dived to a surprise attack, and shot down six of the enemy planes, with a seventh probably destroyed.

U.S.A. AERIAL SUCCESSES. RUGBY. December 22. An American Navy communique states: In the North Pacific on December 20, American bombers, escorted by fighters, carried out a heavy co-ordinated attack on Japanese shore installations at Kiska (Aleutians). Hits and heavy explosions were observed in the vicinity of the submarine base. The camp areas and buildings were bombed and strafed. All the American planes returned.

In the South Pacific on December 20, Army Flying Fortresses attacked enemy installations in the Munda area of New Guinea Island. The results have not yet been reported. On December 21, Army Flying Fortresses again bombed the Japanese shore facilities at Munda, but results are not reported. Two Japanese cargo vessels were attacked by Flying Fortresses near Kahili, Buin, Bougainville Island. One direct hit and several near hits were scored. One cargo vessel was last seen settling by the stern. STRATEGY" DISCUSSION NEW YORK, December 22. Mr Hanson Baldwin, the military Writer in the “New York Times,” says: Our Marines stormed Guadalcanal four and a-half months ago, but, contrary to our plans, we have not made any further step. We are still 3400 miles from Tokio. This delay

in climbing up the ladder of the Solomons has been caused by major American ship losses, damages, difficult supply problems, and also the North African landings, which have diverted shipping from the Pacific. Now the Solomons campaign is represented as a holding offensive, and a means of reducing the enemy’s naval strength by attrition. This is true of the American and Australian drives in New Guinea. In the view of many American and Australian observers, our Pacific strategy is vague and. inchoate. However, this may be more apparent than real. Just as the North African campaign revealed the existence of an Atlantic strategy, so future offensive action may reveal the existence of a Pacific strategy. Many authorities emphasise the need for sped in the development of a Pacific strategy.- Others believe that strategy may become desperate perhaps evolving into an attempt to defeat Japan bv roundabout means, instead of by direct methods of approach.