JAPS. FORCED BACK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20900, 28 September 1942, Page 3

JAPS. FORCED BACK

NEW GUINEA HILLS GUNFIRE PAVES WAY RELENTLESS AIR BOMBING (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 28. Action in the south-west Pacific war during the past two days has established a satisfactory credit of Alliec successes. Japanese forward troops have been forced <to withdraw from some of their advanced positions in the Owen Stanley Ranges, Although slight, the Australian advance is regarded as significant, as a knoll of some strategic importance was occupied in Friday’s drive. No change has occurred in the general location of the fighting, which is still in lorabaiwa. ' Further land success in another New Guinea sector'has been scored in the Bulolo Valley, where Australian troops counter-attacked vigorously, against the Japanese moving inland from Salamaua. winning back a position south of Mubo village, about 12 miles from the coast. Allied heavy bombers did considerable damage to Japanese shipping at Rabaul. On Friday a direct nit was scored on a medium-sized cargo vessel. On Saturday a 10001 b. bomb struck another transport amidships. Three possible hits were scored against a third vessel. Another Japanese transport was sunk when it was attacked by our bombers on / Saturday off Trobriand Island. A direct hit was scored and fires broke oufci.’gutting the vessel. Push in Fog and Rain Prior to the most important land success on the Owen Stanley front, Australian patrols on Thursday night found the Japanese dug in.near lorabaiwa. At dawn on Friday, supported by .25-pounder artillery, strong Australian forces moved to the attack. Blinding rain and heavy mist hid their advance, restricting visibility to a few yards. During the past few days the rains have turned the jungle mud into a quagmire. The Australian troops forced their way forward through the mud, sometimes almost knee-deep. These rains herald the approach of the wet season, which reaches its height in November. Australian-made 25-pounder guns “softened” the Japanese positions for our infantrymen. These guns are heavier than any used by the Japanese in this sector. The enemy 75 m.m. gun fires a shell weighing 15 to 181 b. The Australian guns had to be dragged up mountain ridges from Port Moresby, while those of the Japanese were carried in sections over the longer trail from Kokoda. Our 25-pounders are not guns which can be taken to pieces for porterage convenience. This check to the enemy drive has undoubtedly been assisted by the continual pressure of Allied air attacks on the Japanese supply line from Buna through Kokoda and across the ranges. However, there has been no let-up in the enemy’s attempt to get supplies to his forward troops. A long section of corduroy road has been laid across the swampy country south of Kokoda, and the treacherous jungle track is being widened. Bridge Demolished Again The bridge across the Kumusi River at Wairopi, a vital point on the enemy supnly line, remains a favourite target for our bombers and fighters. Kittyhawks specially equipped to carry four bombs partially demolished the bridge again on Friday. The enemy base at Buna was raided both on Friday and Saturday. For 11 days there has been no let-up in these attacks. On Friday more than 10 tons of bombs .were dropped on the aero- >' drome. Troops in the Salamaua area who ' were forced to give ground before the weight of the initial Japanese thrust at Mubo regrouped, attacked and drove back the enemy. These troops afe'regarded as Australia’s best jungle fighters. They are operating as independently as those on Timor and have lived in the deep forest for many months. Using every trick of bushcraft to way-lay and kill Japanese patrols, they have been conspicuously successful. . The heavy Allied air attacks against enemy shipping at Rabaul and off Trobriand Island, north-east of New Guinea, were merely part of the air activity which has flared up over a wide area of the south-west Pacific theatre. Increasing activity is being shown by the Japanese air force both in raids and interception. Ineffectual raids were made on Darwin by small forces of enemy planes on Friday and Saturday nights. When a Royal Australian Air Force Lockheed Hudson was hunting a Japanese ship off Dilli, in Timor, it was intercepted by four Zeros. Two of the enemy fighters were shot down.