ENEMY TRAPPED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25071, 12 November 1942, Page 5

ENEMY TRAPPED

FORCES IN PAPUA COMPLETELY SURROUNDED DECISIVE STAGE REACHED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 11. The decisive stage is being reached in the battle along the six-mile section of the Buna-Kokoda trail. From Oivi to Gorari Allied pressure against the Japanese is heavy. The enemy has now been completely surrounded, and he will have the greatest difficulty in extricating his forces. Other Allied units are moving east and west of Gorari towards Wairopi bridge, but the Japanese, with their supply line severed, continue to fight doggedly.

Three co-ordinated Allied bombing and strafing attacks in the Buna area on Tuesday caused serious damage and inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese. Ammunition dumps were destroyed, anti-aircraft and other guns silenced, and hutments and barges smashed. Beaufighters, Havocs, and Marauders made the raids, and the principal targets were located . at Soputa (eight miles inland from Buna and Sanananda Point), Popondetta, and Sangara (about five miles further land).

The supply position of the Allied ground forces has now considerably improved, since supplies are being dropped from the air at Kokoda.

ENEMY PAY HEAVY PRICE

HUNDREDS OF GRAVES FOUND (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 11. Hundreds of Japanese graves were found by the advancing Australians along the trail from Buna to Kokoda. A forward hospital had apparently been established in the area and a stake about four feet high, with the soldier's name in Japanese characters, marks each grave. Nail clippings and strands of hair from the dead soldiers, evidently to be sent home to their relatives, have been found wrapped in cellophane, together with burial forms giving the soldier's name, number, and unit, where and how he was killed, and by whom he was buried. Australian troops who fought their way across the Owen Stanley Ranges are convinced that more than half of the enemy soldiers could either speak English or had been taught to speak set phrases. At every opportunity the Japanese attempted to outwit the Australians by calling commands to them in close fighting. When a husky Australian caught a surprised Japanese by the scruff of the neck at Alola. his captive cried, " Let me go, let me go." The Japanese sometimes laid badlywounded soldiers in a position covered by snipers, who shot any Australian who went to their assistance. One wounded enemy soldier called for help and then shot a medical orderly who went to his assistance. . , At Kokoda four New Guinea natives have been presented with medals for loyal service to the Australians fighting in the ranges. The medals, which the boys wear on a chain around their necks, carry the . Australian coat-of-arms on one side and on the other the inscription "For loyal service." Some days ago nine natives attached to United States headquarters were presented with specially designed ramis (one-piece wrap-on garments) made of white material with red bands at the top and bottom and marked with a large blue star.