Fierce Struggle In Buna Mission Area

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1942, Page 2

Fierce Struggle In Buna Mission Area

(Special) SYDNEY, December 20. Violent fighting continues along the Japanese-held coastal strip in Papua.

In the south-east a combined force of Australian and American troops broke through a belt of heavy enemy field fortifications to capture the Cape Endaiadare area. This is on the right flank of the Japanese Sanananda positions, where the main enemy strength is now centred.

Mopping-up operations are still proceeding. On the Buna Mission salient the battle gives no sign of slackening. About 40 Japanese dead were found when our troops took possession of a savagely contested coconut grove south of Buna Government station.

Although the enemy grip on this sector had been seriously weakened by the American occupation of Buna village eleven days ago, strong Japanese defence must be reduced before it is in our hands. These defences include concrete steel-topped pill-boxes. Allied aircraft have been particularly active over the Buna area., 500 fragmentation bombs having been dropped on the Japanese defences in the past two days. West of Gona village, which was captured by Australian forces on December 10. patrol activities continue.

Our troops are reported to be engaged in clearing out the remnants of the Japanese force which landed at the Kumusi River estuary a week ago. Allies Bury 200 Dead Japs.

Almost 200 dead Japanese found here have been buried by our troops. Many more bodies are reported to lie in the area.

The Japanese air force has been more active in night attacks on the Allied rear areas.

Port Moresby has now had its 95th raid, Kawanisi flying-boats dropping their bombs harmlessly.

Lae Again Bombed

The enemy’s main New Guinea air base, Lae, has again been raided by our medium and heavy bombers. Damage is not reported.

Further details have been released of Australian ground patrol activities in this area. The Japanese have sent out a number of punitive expeditions against the villages of natives who refused to enlist as carriers. Australian patrols have retaliated by making surprise raids on enemy outposts, killing garrisons and enabling the natives to escape.

German Missionaries Help Enemy

The main Japanese inland base in the Lae-Salamaua area is at Mubo, where German Lutheran missionaries assisted the enemy. Japanese efforts to penetrate to other villages to enrol native labour by “blackbirding” have been largely foiled by the good work of Australian patrols. Jap Cruiser Sunk A Japanese light cruiser has been sunk in Northern New Guinea waters by Allied heavy bombers. Four direct hits with 5001 b bombs were scored on the warship, exploding the powder magazine. This is reported in today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters, which states that an enemy naval force has been active nortlybf Vitiaz Strait (which separates and New Britain). A convoy comprising two large merchantmen and five warships entered the northern New Guinea harbours of Madang and Finschafen during the night, departing to the north-east before morning. Purpose of the Convoy War commentators here believe that this convoy, which is the largest so far employed by the Japanese in the New Guinea zone, was not directly connected with enemy operations in Fapua, but that it carried supplies as well as troops to relieve or reinforce the garrisons at Madang and Finschafen. Allied reconnaissance aircraft first sighted the ships steaming south from the direction of Admiralty Island. Full details of subsequent air attacks have not yet been released, but two of the flight of escorting Zeros were shot down.

Strengthening Rabaul Defences

Troops aboard the transports and warships were probably landed at Madang and, Finschafen during darkness. Such landings would indicate that the Japanese purpose is to strengthen the outposts protecting their southward base of Rabaul, and thus further delay the eventual Allied drive against this enemy keypoint. A small Japanese cargo vessel is reported to have been sunk by Allied attack planes off the north-east coast of Timor.