HURRIED RETREAT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 264, 7 October 1942, Page 5

HURRIED RETREAT

JAPANESE IN PAPUA AUSTRALIAN PROGRESS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, Oct. 6. The Australian forces in the Owen Stanley Ranges are stated to be six miles beyond Efogi about 1000 ft below the summit of the track. The possession of the heights would open the way for a further rapid advance down the steep northern slopes to the Kokoda area. It is increasingly felt that the Japanese arc withdrawing entirely from the ranges and that they will not. make any stand until the flat country north of the mountains is reached.

The haste with which they left the mountains is evident from the variety and quantity of the abandoned equipment and supplies. The slowing down of the Australian advance in the past three days has been the natural outcome of the supply difficulties, which have greatly increased with eaclj forward move. The Australians are determined not to repeat the Japanese error of outpacing their supply columns. Their advance has now reached a point more than five days’ normal march from the Port Moresby roadhead, from where native carriers bring forward supplies High praise is given to the work of these natives, who carry supplies to the advancing troops and act as stretcher-bearers on the return journey. ENEMY HEAVILY BOMBED.

The communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters to-day stated: “Australian ground troops have recovered Kagi and Myola and our advance is continuing in the gap in the Owen Stanley Range. “At Buna two formations of Allied medium bombers struck at a small Japanese convoy of two destroyers and a transport located off the coast with unobserved results. Six to 12 Zeros were intercepted and three were shot down. One of our planes is missing. Two formations of our heavy bombers and attack units bombed and strafed areas and barges on the beach and machine-gunned a supply dump, which was blown up, and damage was done to the Japanese defences at Sananada. Heavy fire from the ground was encountered. There was no interception and all our planes returned.

“At Rabaul a strong force of Allied heavy bombers attacked Japanese aerodromes, hitting the runways and dispersal areas with 12 tons of bombs. Strong anti-aircraft fire was encountered over the target areas. There were approximately 20 enemy Zeros, and in a running fight of 50 minutes four Japanese planes were shot down and others damaged. One of ours is missing. There was reconnaissance activity only in the north-western sector.”

Increased Japanese fighter plane opposition, particularly in the Rabaul area, was not unexpected. Despite manj' indications that Japan’s air strength is lagging, the Sydney Morning Herald’s military correspondent suggests that appearances may be deceptive and permit of other explanations. Although the Japanese may strengthen their air forces in New Britain and the Northern Solomons as well as in the islands north _ cf Australia, it seems unlikely in view of our command of the New Guinea skies that they will risk planes in Northern Papua itself. The Buna airfield after persistent heavy Allied attacks is stated to be serviceable only for small numbers of aircraft, whose presence there would merely invite their own destruction.