ADVANCING THROUGH GAP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 7 October 1942, Page 5

ADVANCING THROUGH GAP

Australians in Papua ALLIED BOMBERS ATTACK CONVOY Rugby, Oct. 5. Further Australian advances in New Guinea are reported from General MacArthur’a headquarters to-day: “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 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. Barges on the beach were machine-gunned, a supply dump was blown up and damage was done to Japanese defences at Sananada. Heavy fire from the ground was encountered but there was no interception. All our planes returned. At Rabaul, a strong force of Allied heavy bombers attacked Japanese aerodromes, hitting runways and dispersal areas with I 2 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. Reconnaissance activity was only in the north-western sector.—B.O.W.

NO MAJOR CHANGES

POSITION IN SOLOMONS FREQUENT PATROL CLASHES ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS LAND AT NIGHT Rugby, Oct. 5. A United States naval communique states: “Marines are maintaining their positions at Guadalcanar, while our air forces are continuing to attack the er.emy over a wide area. Clashes with enemy patrols have been frequent but there are no major changes in the position. “Despite our determined attacks it has not been possible to prevent the enemy landing small reinforcements on Guadalcanar under cover of darkness. Small groups of Japanese heavy bombers with strong fighter escort raided our positions here. Our fighters shot down four enemy fighters and forced the bombers to jettison their bombs before reaching their objective. Navy and Marine Corps dive-bombers assisted by Army pursuit planes raided small craft carrying supplies and troops to Guadalcanar and also bombed and strafed enemy troops and equipment ashore.”—P.A.

EQUIPMENT LEFT BEHIND

HASTY ENEMY RETREAT Sydney, Oct. 6. Possession of the Owen Stanley heights would open the way for the Australians for a further rapid advance down the steep northern slopes to the Kokoda area. It is increasingly felt that the Japanese are 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 have left the mountains is evident from the variety and quantity of abandoned equipment and supplies. The slowing down of the Australian advance in the past three days has been a natural outcome of supply difficulties which are greatly increased with each 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’ march from the Port Moresby roadhead, from where native carriers bring forward supplies. High praise is given the work of these natives who carry supplies to the advancing troops and act is stretcherbearers on the return journey. JAPAN’S AIR STRENGTH

The increased opposition from Japanese fighter planes, particularly in the Rabaul area, reported in General MacArthur’s communique, was not unexpected. Despite rqany indications that Japan’s air strength is lagging, the Sydney “Morning Herald” military correspondent suggests that appearances may be deceptive and permit of other explanations. He says that “any air position may change with astonishing rapidity and Japan may have been deliberately husbanding her resources for some new and unexpected blow. Neverthelessfl it is highly suggestive that Japanese air power, in New Guinea in particular, should have dwindled so completely in the last few weeks.” Though the Japanese may strengthen their air forces in New Britain and the northern Solomons as well as in tile islands north of Australia, it seems unlikely in view of our command of the New Guinea skies, that they will risk planes in northern Papua itself. Buna airfield, after persistent heavy Allied attacks, is stated to be serviceable only for very small numbers of aircraft, whose presence there would merely invite their own destruction.—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.

DETAILS OF ZERO FIGHTER

AUSTRALIA COULD MAKE A BETTER PRAISES SUNG OF ENGINEERS Canberra, Oct. 6 Australian aircraft engineers know every construction detail of Japan’s Zero fighter. Disclosing that experts have dismantled Zeros, piece by piece, measured and tested every part, the Minister of Aircraft Protection, Mr Cameron, declared his confidence that Australia could manufacture a better fighter. Mr Cameron said the Zero had a maximum speed of about 315 m.p.h. under normal flying at 10,000 feet, and a ceiling of 36,000. At 160 m.p.h. its range was 1,600 miles. He was confident, said the Minister, that the time was approaching when Allied planes would drive them from the skies, and that Australian aircraft would play an important role in their destruction. Referring to a Washington suggestion that Australia might be forced from her own resources to fulfil the need for high altitude fighters to meet Zeros, Mr Cameron expressed the belief that given the necessary materials Australian aircraft engineers could produce such a plane. Australia’s aircraft industry had achieved near miracles in the two-and-a-haif years of its existence. Australia had made Beaufort torpedo-bombers, which were in some respects superior to the original British design. An outstanding example of the resource and adaptability of Australian engineers was the “almost overnight” conversion of these planes to carry American torpedoes.—P.A.

LABOUR GOVERNMENT

ACHIEVEMENTS REVIEWED HOLDING BACK THE INVADER Sydney, Oct. 6. “Everything is subordinated to the job of holding back the invader from our sacred shores,” said the Federal Attorney-GeneraL Dr. Evatt. in a

speech to-night when he reviewed the Labour Government’s achievements during the last 12 months. From the first the Curtin Government concentrated specially on organising the countrys’ resources on the Pacific battlefront, and Mr Curtin had insisted that geographical and strategic considerations should result in the United States taking ov*er the primary responsibility for the whole Pacific theatre of the war. There was nothing anti-British in that. Dr. Evatt said. Rather it was a realistic approach and had proved of incalculable value both to Britain and Australia. Above all, Australia’s relationships with Britain to-day were never more friendly and never more intimate. Improvement regarding supplies during the year had been very great indeed. The number of tanks successfully brought to Australia had been multiplied a hundredfold sine# February, when the outlook for Australia was very black. Similar improvement marked the position with regard to modern fighter aeroplanes. The fact was that equipment obtained by Australia from the United States and Britain had, when added to Australia’s own production, helped to save Australia from Japanese . invasion. The Government believed that although far more attention was now being paid to the Pacific fronts than seemed possible six months ago there was still a tendency in powerful quarters abroad to regard the Pacific as a sideshow. Fortunately President Roosevelt and the United States Navy had always assessed the Pacific theatre as of considerable importance. We owe much to the United States Navy recovery, which after Pearl Harbour had been miraculous.”—P.A.