Papuan Japs. Fight With Undiminished Ferocity

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1942, Page 2

Papuan Japs. Fight With Undiminished Ferocity

SYDNEY. This Day. “It is a beach of death. The great royal coconut palms, ranged along its black slopes, are bitten and chewed with fire from everything in modern war that explodes and kills.” Such word pictures by New Guinea warcorrespondents convey vivid impressions of fighting still continuing with undiminished ferocity in the Japanese shrunken Papuan beachhead fortress area.

“Eviction of the Japanese from eastern Papua is proving one of the most difficult operations of *he Pacific war.” declares the “Sydney Morning Herald ” commenting editorially on the Allied offensive, which was launched almost three months ago when Australian forces dislodged the enemy from loribaiwa Ridge and began their drive across the Owen Stanley ranges. Six weeks ago, when Australians had recaptured Oivi and the skilfully planned out-flanking movement of airborne American troops against Buna was disclosed, hopes were high that there would soon be no invaders left on Papuan soil, but it is now apparent that much hard fighting must be faced before the enemy is driven from this coast.”

While some commentators are urging that strong naval forces should support General MacArthur’s New Guinea campaigns. The “New York Sun’s” correspondent (Mr David Lawrence), believes that Allied blows against the Japanese in the south Pacific could be best intensified by the despatch of a “few hundred” bombers to this theatre. Dangerous Theory

“The theory that a combined Allied fleet could crush Japan after the defeat of Hitler is highly dangerous,” writes Mr. Lawrence.

“If the Japanese are allowed to consolidate their positions, the Pacific war will cost the Allies hundreds of thousands of lives and perhaps last beyond 1945.

On a Shoestrr.ng

“Considering the major nature of the campaign. Allied operations in this theatre are being conducted on a shoestring.

“The Japanese prefer our islandhopping offensive to a major expedition similar to that sent to North Africa.”

Major Baldwin, military correspondent of the “New York Times.” predicts an early Allied push northward in the Solomons, but says that at the moment the main American attention is being directed towards meeting the next Japanese offensive more in the south Pacific.

Fiji, Caledonia, Hebrides Next?

At Washington, a Navy spokesman is stated to have suggested Fiji, the New Hebrides or New Celedonia as possible objectives. It is reported that Admiral Halsey has been ordered “to adopt the necessary precautions" which is accepted as implying a redistribution of his forces.

Fear, or Devotion to Emperor

Meanwhile discussing the suicide defensive stands of the Japanese, which are likely to make Allied islandhopping moves both costly and slow, the Columbia Broadcasting System's Australian correspondent (William Dunn) expresses the opinion that fear, not devotion to the Emperor Hirohito, is the great motivating force. He says: ‘I have spent much time trying to discover the reason for the enemy’s fanatical refusal to surrender even when an individual’s position is entirely hopeless. Undoubtedly religious teachings about the glories of dying in battle provide a contributing factor, but Americans who have talked to Japanese prisoners believe the prime reason for their preference for death, suicidal if necessary, is abject terror about the possibility of torture by Allied soldiers. Australians as Cannibals!

One prisoner, grovelling at the feet of his captors, begged to be shot rather than tortured. Convinced that he would not be tortured, he danced gleefully and insisted on shaking hands with one and all.

Other Japanese had been told that Australians, relishing yellow meat, eat their prisoners.”