ENEMY CONSTRICTED INTO SMALLER AREA

Grey River Argus, 25 November 1942, Page 5

ENEMY CONSTRICTED INTO SMALLER AREA

AUSTRALIANS ADVANCE PAST GONA

Americans Capture Further Positions

(Snecial to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 1040) SYDNEY, Noe 24 There have been three impoiian successes in the Papuan lan n* announced to-day. driving First: Australian troops, dnnns past Gona, are continuing aras Sanananda Point which is five inn Bndladere three miles south-east of Buna, has captured by American forces. h Third: The Allied column wnicn earlier overcame Japanese res stance at Soputa, has advanced deeper in inc strongly-defended Sangata I “Tlw'japanese defence continues to be unflinchingly st y^°J n ; hrpZn!ongeV^Kn^otX A )S>« th ?h r e P Sfe o, enemy etronn pointy now at Buna and Sananandi a n g SC There is a small pocket of Ja P,W||e remaining in Gona villa o e. have been bypassed by the mam au tralian forces, but. they arei being at tacked by a mopping-up unfl- Point If the defences at Sanananaa are overcome the Australians will be in a position to attack Bunas wesim flank P in support of the Anierica - The fiercest fighting isnow la ?r“ attacking here. They have had also to sweep as.de violent t 0 take Cape Enctiaaeie maC hineJapanese had , w clt'Pcepare in gun nests, and had posted P constriction oip“j Japanese-defended area has in better targets be’P'L 0 Kimbers* Allied fighters and attack bombers On Tuesday enemy pos t'°ns * Sanananda Point were heavily straa'rheren has been no Japane^ e n g '/ero livity over Papua but a made an attempt to i 1 nn E a j Ssa nce American bombers on leconnaissa The last stages of the m Papua ar P expected to be fo . u^l^ ican around Buna village. troops are attacking the major strength of the Japanese force at. Buna The Japanese are supported bV Report e s ry from the Americans state that the Japanese have also been us ing anti-aircraft guns depressed to their limit as field-guns as d ‘ mortars with a range of 4,000 yaid.. A combined Australian and Amen can force which captured Soputa six miles inland from Buna, on Saturday, is now reported to have pushed on three miles to the Sangara plantation area. The enemy has strong defences there A successful Allied drive would split the Japanese defenders at Buna and Gona, and would clinch the | victory. . T Mr Don Carswell. American United Press correspondent in the Buna area, says: Heavy rains have hampered the attackers, who are opposed to a Marine force from Formost The Japanese are well-clothed and equipped. Some of their equipment bears the 1942 stamp. Several Allied columns have converged on Buna, where the main weight of the Allied air attacks has been concentrated. Although the Japanese are being driven back at all points of the Allied attack, they are fighting stubbornly for every yard of ground.