DARING NIGHT RAID

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20825, 2 July 1942, Page 3

DARING NIGHT RAID

AT LAE ALLIED COMMANDOS HEAVY TOLL OF ENEMY (By Telegraph—Preaa Aaan.— Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 2 The Allied land forces have made a daring night raid on .the Japanese garrison at Salamaua in New Guinea. Sixty Japanese were killed or wounded and some equipment was captured. The only casualties among the raiding party were two men wounded. This is reported in the latest communique issued by Allied Headquarters in the south-west Pacific. The raiding party struck in darkness, taking .the enemy by complete surprise and withdrew to the rough country of the hinterland before the garrison could organise to retaliate effectively. This is the first land offensive carried out by the Allies in the southwest Pacific since General MacArthur .took command. Though the communique does not specify the date of the attack, it may have taken place on Sunday night. The operation was a harassing raid, undoubtedly designed for the main purpose of securing inteligence information. It has not been revealed whether the raid was made by Australian or American land forces. Villages'Harmlessly Bombed The only : Japanese reprisal announced by General Headquarters is that soon after .the raid the enemy sent over planes .to bomb the villages of Komiatum, fwo miles south-west of Salamaua, and Mubo, 10 miles to the south. Apparently the Japanese attacked these villages because they believed them .to be the points from which the Allied raiders operated. The communique claims -.that no damage was done by the bombings. Early in March when the Japanese forces first occupied Lae and Salamaua. it was reported that Australian guerrilla troops were frequently in contact with the enemy in sorties across the Francisco River, which runs near Salamaua. Although Sunday night’s operation is the first raid to be reported since March, it is clear that Allied troops of the commando type have been 'in New Guinea’s heavy jungle country for some weeks Four main routes over the Owen Stanley ranges, which rise in places 13,000 ft. from Port Moresby to Salamaua and Lae, traverse some of the world’s most difficult jungle country Unless the troops were transported part of the way by air, .the raid on Lae would involve a journey likely to occupy several weeks. The latest communique also reports Allied bombing attacks on Tuesday night on .the wharf and aerodrome at Rabaul in New Britain and on the aerodrome at Lae. The results at Lae were not observed, but at Rabaul fires were started.