TOUGH FIGHTERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20826, 3 July 1942, Page 5

TOUGH FIGHTERS

SALAMAUA RAIDERS VALUABLE NEWS GAINED MORE ATTACKS LIKELY (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (2.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 2. The Allied force which raided the Japanese garrison at Saiamaua brought back information which will be of the utmost value to our intelligence section, says the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s war correspondent. The raid was made by tough, determined fighters trained to a minute in jungle warfare and anxious to avenge their fallen comrades in Malaya, Rabaul and Java. The news of the raid spread quickly among troops at advanced positions in the north-east area and Port Moresby and the announcement was cheered by the garrisons. Although there is a disposition not to associate the word commando with the raid, this is the closest approach to commando methods yet employed in the south-west Pacific theatre of war. The official view is that the incident should be put in its perspective and regarded as no more than a nuisance raid. Nevertheless, Its value should not be under-estimated. It is the first fruits of patient training in the ways of warfare of which much more will be seen in the south-west Pacific before the conflict ends. At Lae and Saiamaua, the enemy henceforth will be obliged to remain constantly on the alert.