SKILL IN JUNGLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21092, 12 May 1943, Page 3

SKILL IN JUNGLE

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS JAPANESE SURPASSED TOLL IN AMBUSHES (Special Australian Correspondent.) (10.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 12. Australian troops operating in the Mubo area of northern New Guinea are much more skilful jungle fighters than the Japanese. To date the Australians have soundly beaten the Japanese in every patrol skirmish that lias taken place in the area. The latest of these, which is reported in General MacArthur’s latest communique, occurred when enemy forces attempted to attack our positions south of Green’s Hill. They were repulsed, but the communique gives no further details of the action. Considerable skirmishing has taken place in this area. “At least 10 Japanese are killed for every Australian,” declared one soldier who has just returned from the sector. “The Digger is now a much better bushman than the Japanese.” Australian patrols operating around Mubo travel light. No blankets are carried and the men sleep in bitterly cold nights covered only by a ground sheet. One feature of the patrolling work in which the Australians have become expert is that of ambushes. The Japanese have , thus been forced always to reconnoitre in strength. In three days during ‘the past week about 50 Japanese were killed in successful ambushes and many more were wounded. Skirmishing clashes are certain to become much more frequent now that the Australian occupation of Bobdubi offers a definite fiireat to the enemy’s supply line to their forward troops around Mubo. The map shows that the Australians are within three air miles of the important enemy base of Salamaua, but no map conveys an adequate idea of the terrain. “When the time comes for an offensive to be launched against this Japanese base,” writes a war correspondent from New Guinea, “it will be the beginning of a campaign in which the country, with its ridges, gorges, swamps and eight known streams will prevent any frontal attack. It will be fought on tougher ground than any of our troops saw in the Buna area.”