AIR SUPERIORITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25015, 8 September 1942, Page 3

AIR SUPERIORITY

NEW GUINEA ZONE ENEMY POSITIONS ATTACKED LULL IN LAND FIGHTING (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 7. The Allied air force continues to exploit its air superiority in the New Guinea area, and the latest communique from General MacArthur's headquarters reports further co-opera-tion by fighter units with our ground forces in the Kokoda sector. Yesterday three bombing and strafing attacks were made on the enemy's advanced positions. No ground activity in this area has been reported for some days, and it is believed that the Japanese have temporarily ceased their efforts to press on towards the Kokoda gap, the 7000 ft pass to Port Moresby across the Owen Stanley Range. The Japanese have, however, been moving • supplies from their coastal base at Buna to Kokoda. Enemy Inactivity

The period of Japanese air inactivity is now entering its second week. Enemy bombers have not raided any Allied base, and there has been no recent attempt at fighter interception of our raiding aircraft. To-day's communique reports that our heavy bombers made an attack on an enemy cargo vessel in south-east New Guinea waters. News of this attack follows the week-end announcement of the bombing of a Japanese cruiser in the same area. The results of the bombing were not observed and no explanation has been offered of the presence of an enemy warship and a freighter in this area. Milne Bay was not mentioned in to-day's communique, but a headquarters' spokesman stated that the mop-ping-up operations in the area were proceeding. Observers believe that the present lull in the Kokoda land fighting may be short-lived and the moving of Japanese strength from other theatres is considered likely to portend ominous events in the South Pacific, as well as elsewhere. Quality of Enemy Fighters Meanwhile Australian war correspondents emphasise the quality of the Japanese troops who are opposing the Australians at Kokoda. Veterans of the Middle East campaigns say that the Japanese are "far more robot-like than the destiny-seeking Germans." They show complete disregard for death and are willing to endure any privations. They attack at night and prefer to move in heavy rain, which muffles noise. The enduring, fanatical patience of the enemy is shown by the fact that Japanese snipers are known to have waited in cramped, rain-soaked positions and short of food for as long as four days in the expectation of meeting Australian patrols. Recent fighting in close jungle frequently occurred at 10 yards' range Sometimes the Australians made sorties under cover of machine-gun fire to clear out the hidden enemy. Soldiers who have returned from the Kokoda front emphasise that the Japanese have been beaten and can be beaten, but easy optimism when opposing them is always dangerous and often fatal. MAKIN ISLAND RAID

THE JAPANESE VERSION NEW YORK. (Rec. 11.50 p.m.) Sept. 6. The Tokio official radio, giving its version of the recent American raid on Makin Island, said that two submarines landed 200 troops at night-time. Later another force landed at the Japanese rear, but over 50 per cent, of the entire invading force was wiped out. • Lieutenant-colonel Carlson, the marine commander, previously reported that all but two of 350 Japanese at Makin were killed, and that the enemy lost 10 men for each American lost.