Only 250 Japs Survived Air Assaults

Northern Advocate, 18 December 1942, Page 3

Only 250 Japs Survived Air Assaults

(Special) SYDNEY. December 17. Only about 250 Japanese troops are believed to have survived the terrific Allied air assaults made against the latest enemy landing, attempts at Kumusi and Mambare in Northern New Guinea. This is an official estimate from General MacArthur’s headquarters.

Our fighters and bombers are making ceaseless attacks on Japanese positions from Buna Mission to Mambare Estuary. Liberator bombers, searching the Gasmata (New Britain) area for a convoy from which landings were made last Monday, shot down eight Zeros which attempted interception. They completed their reconnaissance mission without loss.

Emperor’s Wish?

! The Japanese garrison, bitterly defending the Buna-Sanananda beachhead. is making a suicide stand because this is believed to be the personal wish of Emperor Hirohito. This has been revealed by an enemy prisoner questioned bv an Allied intelligence officer. The prisoner is a 24-year-old lance-corporal of Number Three Company, Hazumi Mountain Artillery. He said he had been told that the Emperor, hearing that the Buna crisis was imminent, had asked that the beach-head "be defended to the last man." No fresh Allied gains are reported in the Buna land battle, but today's communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters says: "Pressure on the enemy is slowly increasing." Fiercest fighting is in a coconut grove south of the Buna Government station No Push-over At Buna In a delayed despatch the American United Press war correspondent (Frank Hewlett) who was the only reporter to witness the American entry