SMASHING BLOWS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 21, 23 December 1942, Page 5

SMASHING BLOWS

BUNA MISSION BATTLE

GOOD ALLIED PROGRESS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, Dec. 22. Allied tanks, artillery, . and low-flying bombers are blasting a way through the complicated and formidable Japanese defence system near the Buna Mission. Already 15 enemy strong-points have been captured. These defences, which block the way to the main Buna air-strip, are described as of the “bunker” typo, supported by connecting concrete and steel emplacements. The spokesman at the Allied Headquarters said to-day that the advance is proving “a tough proposition.” Thirteen-ton American-built General Stuart tanks manned by Australian crews, which are playing the main part in smashing the defences, were responsible for capturing a new airstrip which was built by the enemy as an extension of the Buna airfield some months ago, but which was never used. They have now driven a wedge into the more powerful defences protecting the second airstrip. Though classed as a light tank, the General Stuarts have proved heavy enough to crush Japanese pillboxes and log stockades which had withstood several weeks of aerial and artillery bombardment. Their 37 mm. cannon and machine-guns blasted the enemy strong-points at point-blank range.

ENEMY BEWILDERED. The use of tanks by the Allies came as a stunning surprise to the Japanese, who had evidently believed it was impossible to transport heavy armoured fighting vehicles to the fortress area or to employ them there on the swampy ground. The enemy has had no anti-tank guns, but he quickly overcame his bewilderment and attemped to burn out the tanks with flame-throwers similar to those which were captured at Milne Bay in August. His efforts were entirely without success. Some of tlio Japanese jumped on the sides of tanks and tried to shoot the crews through the vision slits, but they were speedily disposed of by the supporting Allied infantry, and it was the infantry with bayonets, tommyguns, and grenades who did the actual mopping up after the tanks had driven the Japanese into the open. “The unexpected use of tanks as a truly secret weapon was a tactical masterpiece,” writes the Sydney Sun’s New Guinea war correspondent. “Without them the 1500 yards advance would have been much more costly in Allied casualties.” While the Americans are attacking the remaining enemy strongpoints in the airfield area, the Australians arc advancing against Buna Mission, which is 3000 yards- away, and is protected by heavy defences, Havocs, supporting this operation, dropped more thun 200 fragmentation bombs on the Japanese positions. While heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy, tlio Allied gains of the past few days have not been cheaply made. The enemy has used all his old tricks. When a Life magazine photographer learned over a trench to snap a Japanese victim of our advance he heard a shot. It had been fired by one of a nearby group of Americans, when they saw the allegedly dead Japanese sit up. One little enemy private gave himself up quite cheerfully, but he was the sole exception, and then a Japanese sniper attempted to shoot his surrendering compatriot. In the Gona sector our patrols are active. Near the Amboga River they have released 200 Rabaul natives who had been brought into Papua as carriers. A large enemy transport carrying troop reinforcements succeeded in getting into Finschaven last Week-end. Allied Air Force Headquarters to-day announced that swift retribution overtook the Japanese airmen responsible for tlio recent shameful bombing of an Allied front-line hospital in Papua. The attack was made by seven dive-bombers escorted by two Zeros, and the formation in returning to its base encountered a squadron of Airacobras. Hie Allied pilots, who were on routine patrol duty and unaware of the Japanese bombing of our hospital, dived to a surprise at- | tack and shot down six of the enemy I planes, with a seventh probably dc- . stroyod. I MR FORDE’S WARNING.

Warnings against over-estimating tlio importance of tho recent Allied gains in Papua have been given by several authorities. . Tho Australian Army Minister (Mr Fordo) declared that though the Japanese had been checked in their southward drive and had suffered considerable losses all tho indications were that they would come back in strength at the Allies in the South-West Pacific. It was doubtful if the turning point in the war against Japan in this had yet been reached. Mr Forde revca.cd that the Australian Al‘my is now nearing its maximum strength, . “General MaoArthurs dramatic Papuan drive gives tho Allies merely tactical advantages,” says the New York Times Washington correspondent, Mr G. Ilurd, “but unless it is followed up by a northward drive it will not constitute a real victory. Our only achievement is the seizing of the initiative. However, tho Allied successes in the South Pacific did moke possible General Wavc.'s attack in Burma.”