ALLIES PUSH ON

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24464, 23 December 1942, Page 3

ALLIES PUSH ON

SMASHING INTO BUNA TOUGH PROPOSITION 15 STRONG POINTS TAKEN (Special Australian Correspondent) (Recti. 9.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 'J'J. Allied tanks, artillery and lowflying bombers are blasting their way through the complicated and formidable Japanese defence system at Buna. Already 15 enemy strongpoints have been captured. These defences blocking the way to the main Buna airstrip are described as of "bunker" type, and are supported by connecting concrete and steel emplacements. A spokesman at Allied headquarters said to-day that our advance was proving a tough proposition. The 13-ton American-built General Stuart tanks, manned by Australian crews, which are playing the main part in smashing the Buna defences, were responsible for capturing the new airstrip built by the enemy as an extension of the Buna airfield some months ago. However, it was never used. Tanks Drive Wedge These General Stuart tanks have now driven a wedge into the more powerful defences protecting the second airstrip. Although classed as light tanks, the General Stuarts proved heavy enough to crush the Japanese pill boxes and log stockades which had withstood aerial and artillery bombardment for several weeks.' Their 37triui. cannon and machine-guns blasted the eiftmy strongpoints at point-blank range. The Allied use of tanks came as a stunning surprise to the Japanese who evidently believed that it would be impossible .to transport heavy armoured fighting vehicles to the fortress area, or to employ them there on swampy ground. The enemy had no anti-tank guns, but they quickly overcame thenbewilderment and attempted to burn out the tanks with flame-throwers similar to those captured at Milne Bay in August. Their efforts were entirely without success. Infantry Mops Up Some of the Japanese jumped on the sides of the tanks and _ tried to shoot the crews through the vision slits. They were speedily disposed of by supporting Allied infantry. It was the infantrv with bayonets, tommy guns and grenades who did the actual moppingup after the tanks had driven the Japanese out into the open. "The unexpected use of tanks as a truly secret weapon was a tactical masterpiece," writes the New Guinea war correspondent of the Sydney Sun. "Without them the 1500 yards advance would have boon much more costly in casualties for the Allies." While the Americans lire attacking the remaining enemy* strongpoints in the airfield area, the Australians are advancing against Buna Mission, 3000 yards away. It is protected by heavy defences. Havoc bombers supporting this operation have dropped more than 200 fragmentation bombs on the Japanese positions. No Cheap Gains While heavy casualties have been inflicted on the enemy, the Allied gains of the past few days have not been cheaply made. There have been many instances of fanatical resistance by small groups of Japanese. The enemy used all their old tricks. When a photographer from the magazine Life leaned over a trench to snap a Japanese victim of our advance, he heard a shot. It had been fired by one of a near by group of Americans when they saw an allegedly dead Japanese sit up. One enemy private gave himself up quite cheerfully, but he was the "sole exception—and then a Japanese sniper attempted to shoot his compatriot who was surrendering. In the Gona sector our patrols are active. Near the Amboga River they released from the enemy 200 natives from Rabaul who had been brought to Papua as carriers. SWIFT RETRIBUTION BOMBING OF HOSPITAL ENEMY PLANES ALL SHOT DOWN (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 12.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 22 Allied air force headquarters to-day announced that swift retribution overtook the Japanese airmen responsible for the recent bombing of an Allied front-line hospital in Papua. The attack was made by seven divebombers escorted by two Zeros and the formation when returning to_ its base encountered a squadron of .Airacobras. Allied pilots who were on routine patrol duty and unaware of _ the Japanese bombing our hospital dived to a surprise attack and shot down six of the enemy planes and the seventh was probably" destroyed. NOTE OF CAUTION CAMPAIGN IN PAPUA (Special Australian Correspondent) (Heed. 0.35 p.m.) SYDNEY. Dee. 22 Warnings against over-estimating ! the importance of recent Allied gains in Papua are given by several authorities. The Australian Minister for the Army, Mr. F. M. Forde, says that, although the Japanese have been checked in their drive south, and have suffered considerable losses, all indications are that they will come back in strength at the Allies in the South-west Pacific. It was doubtful, ho adds, if the turning point in tho war against Japan in this theatre has yet been reached. General MitcArthur'-s dramatic drive in Papua gives the Allies merely tactical advantages, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times, Mr. Charles Ilurd. Unless it was followed up by a drive north, ho adds, it would not constitute a real victory. "Our only achievement is to seize the initiative," he asserts. "However, Allied successes in the South Pacific did moke possible General Wavell's attack in Burma."