JAPANESE ROUTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25172, 9 April 1945, Page 7

JAPANESE ROUTED

BOUGAINVILLE BATTLE ANZAC TEAM WINS AGAIN (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) BOUGAINVILLE, April 6 The Anzac team operating on Bougainville demonstrated once again the worth of close co-operation between air and ground forces, when the second serious Japanese attack to be made in ten days was decisively countered. As in the first attack, which took place after Easter, the clash occurred along the approach to the Hongorai River, which the Japanese obviously are determined to hold at all costs. The battle began before dawn yesterday, when screaming .Japanese advanced along the Huru Huru road to throw themselves in a suicidal attack against strongly-defended positions on Slater's Knoll. As Vickers guns mowed them down the Japanese continued to press forward, mounting themselves against the barbed-wire perimeter defence in their eagerness to come within bayonet reach of the Australians. Flight of the Enemy Bright moonlight helped the Australian gunners, and by daylight the Japanese had retreated into the valley, whence they sent over mortar fire. They were engaged by fire from artillery and Pita guns, equivalent to the bazooka, and the arrival of Matilda tanks sent the Japanese fleeing back over the ridge and through a field of fire covered by the defenders. Australian forward elements were also being attacked and, although the full details are not yet known, a message has been received stating that the situation is well in hand, and that the defenders are completely happy. During the day of this battle. New Zealand Corsairs flew 54 sorties, bombing and strafing indicated by Australian mortars. Beyond the front line, fighter-bombers were given an open ticket to search out and strike at Japanese reinforcements and equipment wherever they were to be found. An Australian war correspondent on the spot said: "The whole area was raked by 10001b bombs. Japanese running for their lives were strafed, an ammunition dump blew up with terrific force, and one gun which had been worrying us was silenced. It is impossible to exaggerate the effect of this support to our troops." Japanese Pay Dearly

Late in the day, 152 members of the infamous 6th Japanese Division, which first sprang into prominence b.v the rape of Nanking, were counted dead on Slater's Knoll, and probably many more of the 1000 Japanese believed to have taken part in the attack were wounded by the defenders' smashing blows from the air and the ground. It is nbt known how long the Japanese may continue to attack in defence of their line along the Hongorai, but their losses yesterday, in conjunction with an estimated 500 casualties over Easter, have seriously limited their resources. The deterioration is being furthered by continued attacks by Corsairs.