GONA SUCCESS

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1942, Page 5

GONA SUCCESS

Allied Press Comment POINTER TO ENEMY DEFEAT. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn ) .. (Rec 9.40) LONDON, Dec. 14. Allied commentators are busy ex : aminning strategical implications oi the enemy’s annihilation ,m Gona. “The London Times declared. “This grim conquest had the quality of incredibility. It prows, ever, that Japanese holdings can be made to yield to properly-planned ana boldly-directed counter offensives. Although Papua and Guadalcanar ar not major points around th ® of the Japanese conquests, "everthe less thev are the first foreshadowing of Japan’s inevitable downfall. The “New York Herald-Tribune says: The Allies now are entitled to look ahead to next steps in the. South , west Pacific war. It should be po sible to exert pressure from Buna hgainst Lae and Salamaua, wh capture would directly menace the rear of the whole Japanese operations in the Solomons.” Australian commentators remain more concerned with the hard hg * ing that lies immediately ahead, ana also with the revelations of the Japanese strengths and weaknesses. “Both in the Solomons and Papua attrition warfare has proven technically uneconomic for the enemy, declares the “Sydney Herald s mi “" tary correspondent. “Air activity in the Solomons and in New Guinea indicates clearly that the Japanese lack available plane strength to pur sue simultaneous aggressive roles in both theatres. In planes as well as in shipping Japan is being biea “Aerial aspects of the Pacific war have completely changed,” says tne “Herald" writer. “It is difficult to see how Japanese resources can Keep pace with mounting losses of the past four months, esnecially since a vast flow of American production is steaaiiy increasing Allied striking power.

AMERICAN GENERALS

IN THICK OF GONA FIGHTING

NEW YORK, Dec. 11.

The “New York Times” correspondent, Mr Tillman Burdin, somewhere in New Guinea, says: A few days ago, on the Buna front, Ameri-

can Generals went in the thick of lighting with privates, toting tommybuns and duelling with snipers and grenade throwers. Leading an attack. a brigadier-general stopped a sniper’s bullet with his chest. A captain alongside ' of the general was wounded in the body by snipers. Another captain, who was’ wounded two hours previously was again hit superficially during a single-handed grenade throwing duel with Japanese behind a barricade.