BUNA-GONA BATTLE

Grey River Argus, 24 November 1942, Page 5

BUNA-GONA BATTLE

JAPS REINFORCED ALLIED AIR BLITZ Enemy Hemmed Closer [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 9.30) SYDNEY. Nov. 23. Japanese reinforcements have apparently been landed in the BunaGona' area, in a desperate attempt t 0 relieve General Horrii’s besieged ’ troops. Bad weather and darkness covered the Japanese landings. The conditions prevented attacks by the Allied air forces. During daylight on Sunday, a Japanese destroyer and two landing craft were sunk by Allied bombers. The probable size of the Japanese reinforcements has not been indicated. •It .is believed that they are small. They may have been landed from destroyers that later were sunk. A force of four Japanese destroyers, sighted earlier off Buna, has withdrawn to the north. • This convoy could have transported not more than two thousand troops. That number would be substantially reduceu if equipment were also carried.” A “Sydney Herald” war correspondent comments on the Japanese landing as follows: — “The risks of landing so small a force are out of proportion to the potential value of the force, and out of line, too, with a Well-established Japanese policy of never sending a boy to do a man s job.” , , In the air as well as on the ground Allied forces continue to hold an advantage in bitter lighting. On Sunday a dav of ceaseless Al- < lied bombing and strafing and dogfights cost the Japanese nineteen aircraft. Only one Allied Diane was lost. An enemy formation of twelve divebombers, escorted by twenty Zeros-, attempted to attack Allied troops, but. it was broken up by Allied fighters, and was forced to abandon its mission. „ , Flying conditions on Sunday weie considerably improved. Fortresses. North American bombers. Havocs, Beaufighters, and Airacobras took part in the attacks against the enemy. Japanese planes made one sortie. Several were shot down. Others, which returned to the Lae aerodrome, were destroyed on the ground when Beaufighters made strafing attacks. Japanese forces, hemmed on the narrow Buna-Gona' beach-head were attacked from the air without cessation, they being forced to endure the heaviest strafing of the Papuan campaign. . Australian and American troops continue their drive against the enemy. To.-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s Headquarters states: “The Allied forces are steadily closing in on all sides of the enemy s ' dwindling position.” American troops have captured a new airstrip south of Buna. There the fighting’ has been of the fiercest. The Americans have been launching heavy assaults on the main aireld. The Allies have now brought up twenty-five-pounder artillery, with which to reply to Japanese Held guns. It will be recalled that twenty-five-pounders played an important part in the initial s'tages of the Australian drive across the Owen Stanley Ranges. .« Australian units are believed to have forced their way to a position which threatens the fall of Gona’. Intensified Japanese air efforts which will perhaps, be also supported by further attempts of land reinforcement. are expected. War correspondents state that the Allied air strength is now at its highest, and that given favourable operational conditions, Allied air forces should be capable of making further heightened Japanese efforts exorbitantly expensive. The fact that Allied troops are now using twenty-five-pounder guns indicates that supply difficulties have largely been overcome.