FIGHTING HEAVY

Grey River Argus, 23 November 1942, Page 4

FIGHTING HEAVY

Enemy's Back to Wall ALLIED HOPE.OF QUICK SUCCESS, * [Special to N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 9.5) SYDNEY, Nov. 22. The heaviest fighting of the New Guinea campaign still continues in North Papua. There the Japanese, with the backs to the sea, are making a desperate last stand in the Buna-Gona-Soputa area. The casualties there are expected to be heavy. « Japanese naval forces are there. They are reported to comprise four destroyers, which are manoeuvring between New Britain and New Guinea. It is evident that the enemy has not yet abandoned his hope- of relieving General Horrii’s besieged troops.

Poor v. Ability has made it difficult to keep close watch on the enemy warship.,

The Japanese now hav n also thrown their air forces into battle.

On Friday, when bad weather made it impossible foi Allied aircraft to operate from the southern aerodromes, Japanese Zero lighter planes harassed the Allied attacking troops. On Saturday, the weather began to clear. Allied an craft were again operating in close support of Allied land forces Th-y gave the Japanese no rest throughout the day, and inflicted heavy damage and casualties.

Two enemy fighters attempted interception. They weie shot down. The Allies lost no planes. The Japanese air activity on Saturday was on a diminishing scene. The- enemy troops in the area are becoming increasingly concentrated. They consequently are offering better targets for Allied strafing aircraft. The factor of air superiority thus must be of vital importance during these final stages 4>f the battle fir Papua Allied aircraft have made night raids on enemy rcimlroroes at Kavieng, in New Ireland, and on installations at Rabaul, in hew Britain. Evidently the raids were to neutralise Japanese • efforts to provide air and naval 'assistance for General Horrii’s forces. Meanwhile Australian and American troops are relentlessly pressing Japanese forces into a shrinking triangle from Gona to Buna, and to Soputa. The distance from Gona to Buna is about 12 miles, while Soputa is six miles inland from Buna on the Giriwu River.

At Soputa combined Allied forces are making their strongest attacks. War correspondents say that enemy resistance at Soputa begins to show signs of crumbling. The Japanese, hdwever, are in well-prepared positions, which include light artillery emplacements. The Allied troops are using mortars and machine-guns as their heaviest weapons. No details of this land battle have yet been received. It is clear that the Allied strategy is to keep driving against the Japanese, thus giving them no opportunity for rest and reorganisation. To dislodge. the determined enemy from his fox-holes, gun-pits and trenches may be costly. But if improving weather conditions permit, full exploitation of Allied air superiority in the Papuan phase of this New Guinea campaign should be pressed to a swift conclusion.