JAPS STRONGER

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1943, Page 5

JAPS STRONGER

In Ramu Valley 'WMHJW'.h AUSTRALIANS GIVE SOME GROUND. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn,) (Rec. 6.30) SYDNEY. Dec. 13. The Japanese forces in the Ramu Valley, New'Guinea, are believed to have been reinforced along the motor highway from Bogadjim, the important enemy coastal base twenty miles south of Madang. There is renewed ground fighting in the valley. It follows a lull of more than a month. Ramu Valley is north-west of the Huon Peninsula, from which an-, other Australian force is steadily driving Japanese forces. The Japanese have established strong, defences on ridges dominating the Ramu Valley. They also have made numerous counter-attacks. Their artillery has been active. The Japanese are now believed to be using heavier guns. Allied patrols report the presence of Japanese in places that formerly were free of enemy forces. AI.F. troops moved into the Markham .and Ramu Valleys after the fall of Lae on September 16. They have also clashed with J'apanese forces at several points in the Finisterre Range. This range forms a natural barrier to the Australian drive towards Bogadjim. The renewed action in this area was precipitated by increased Japanese patrol activity, and by .attacks on the’ Australian outposts in the Kesawai sector. Kesawai village was occupied by Australians early October. It is 25 air miles south of Bogadjim. Australians have inflicted heavy casualties on Japanese in local encounters, but they have been forced to yield a small amount of ground at .a few places. Jap Air Raid IN RAMU VALLEY. (Rec. 10.10.) SYDNEY,. Dec. 13. For the first time in many weeks, the Japanese air force has given signs of large-scale activity in New Guinea. Forty enemy fighters attempted a dawn attack on the Australian positions in the Ramu Valley. They were intercepted and driven off by eight Kittvhawks. ' Allied fighter patrol suffered no loss. » ALLIED RAID ADVANTAGES (Rec. 7.0) SYDNEY, Dec. 13. Major-General Lethbridge, leader of the British Military Mission, in a broadcast address, said: “We enjoy air superiority in New Guinea, both in the morale and skill of our pilots, and in the performance of our aircraft, far exceeding anything we have so far achieved the Germans in Europe.” He was impressed by the close co-operation between the Air Force and ground troops and by the extent to which aircraft were used for transport in New Guinea fighting.