ADVANCE ON BUNA

Grey River Argus, 18 November 1942, Page 5

ADVANCE ON BUNA

JAPANESE IN JEOPARDY MacArthur in the Field [Special to N.Z. Press Assn], (Rec. 10.30.) SYDNEY, Nov. 17. General MacArthur, Commander-in Chief in the South-west Pacific area, is personally directing the Papuan campaign in the field, as the Allied troops press on towards Buna. With him are his land and air force commanders, General Blamev and General Kenney. Australian patrols are to-day reported to be thirty-four miles from Buna. They are at Awala, nearly seven miles beyond Wairopi. The Japanese forces are steadilv retreating before the Allied advance. An American flanking force is also closing in on the enemy’s Buna bridgehead. . In co-ordination with the Australian frontal drive. Allied air forces are giving the enemy a terrific pounding. Beaufighters. Havocs and North American bombers are operating a “shuttle service’’ against enemy petitions. They are bombing targets on the Kumusi River, north of Wairopi, which suggests that many Japanese are attempting to escape down the river in native canoes.

Some of the commentators believe that the enemy may abandon Buna, and may attempt to force his way through more than one hundred and twenty miles of jungle country, and get to his nearest North New Guinea base, Salamaua. This would appear likely to.be a suicidal venture. The heaw Japanese naval defeat in the Solomons has further diminished the enemy’s chances of being evacuated by sea. Therefore General Horii’s forces seem likely to be trapped in, the Buna area.

In spite of their great losses of men and equipment, the. Japanese must still retain the power to offer vicious resistance when, if they choose, they turn and fight.

Jap War Vessels AGAIN RAIDED IN SOLOMONS WATERS. ' [Special to N.Z, Press Assn.J (Rec. 11.0.) SYDNEY, Nov. 17. Japanese naval forces have remained in Solomon Island waters after the smashing victory of the American fleet, and have again been under attack by Flying Fortresses of General MacArthur’s command, a further night raid having been made on eneniy shipping in the Buin-Faisi area early on Monday morning. A destroyer and g transport were damaged. This was the sixth consecutive night raid made by Sguth-west Pacific Command bombers on’ Japanese shipping in the Buin-Faisi area. In these attacks, thirteen vessels have been damaged.

Japs Wil! Come Again TRUK NAVAL BASE MENACED (Rec. 12.22) NEW YORK, Nov. 16. The New York “Times” in an editorial says: “The naval victory in the Solomons is all the morei promising because it was won within a few hundred miles of a great Japanese naval base, Truk, by an American fleet operating from an improvised island base, far from the centre of our naval power, Pearl Harbour. Although the blow has been sharp and punishing, we must assume that the enemy will return to the scene of battle, and will renew his challenge. He is drawn irresistibly to the southern Solomons, both by the desire to command an air base that is important to the defence of Truk, and by an inability to accept a loss of “face.” He- will come again, but without some of his finest ships. We have won a victory, that brings appreciably closer supremacy of American seapower in the Pacific. MR CURTIN'S GRATITUDE. (Rec. 11.0.) SYDNEY, Nov. 17. Referring to the Solomons and New Guinea warfare, the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, has warned that “the battle is not yet over, —but the enemy knows that he has been fighting” Mr Curtin has expressed gratitude to the United States “for the magnificent forces used in this theatre.”

Japanese Claim Victory GUADALCANAR'S FATE IN THEIR HANDS. (Rec. 11.5.) SYDNEY, Nov. 17. The Tokio official radio, quoting the Japanese Imperial Headquarters, has been making its usual extravagant claims of victory. The Tokio radio states: “More than half of the Allied fleet in the Solomons was destroyed. or crippled, in the battle last Thursday.” It added: “The fate of the United States landing force on Guadalcanar Island is now in the hands of the Japanese forces. This latest defeat of the United States’ forces means that the American Navy’s counter-attacks in the Solomon Islands have been shattered.”

U.S. Earlier Losses JAPANESE CLAIM EIGHT WARSHIPS. AMERICAN REFUTATION. WASHINGTON, Nov. 16. Mr. Elmer Davis, Director of the Office of War Information, said the Japanese High Command now claims the s'nking of eight United . States warships, including three aircraftcarriers. in the earlier battle of October 26. These claims were false. “We lost one carrier and one destroyer already reported.” Mr. Davis added: “I have every reason to believe the Navy is telling the truth. DUTCH SUBMARINE TORPEDOES SHIP. LONDON. Nov. 14. The Dutch Admiraltv announces that one of its submarines operating with the British Navy in the Far East scored a torpedo hit on a supply shin of five thousand tons during an attack on an escorted convoy.