FIERCE LOCALISED ACTIONS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15236, 29 December 1942, Page 3

FIERCE LOCALISED ACTIONS

ALLIES STORM BUNA AIRSTRIP SLOW PROGRESS DESIRABLE j’ TO KEEP LOSSES AT MINIMUM. | United Pi ess Assn.—By Elec-trie Telegraph—Copyright. <, Special Australian Correspondent.» SYDNEY, Dec. 28. Fierce local actions are marking the Allied to breach the last Japanese defences at ,th e end of Hie main Buna airstrip and around the Buna Mission station. General MacArthur’s communique describes rhe fighting as 4 ‘sanguinary.’’ In. the airfield area, important gun emplacements were captured, while a wedge was driven into the enemy defence system around the mission. A slight advance was made near San an and a,, which has been described as ‘‘the core, of the Japanese bridgehead fortress.” One of the reasons contributing to the slow Allied progress that our offensive plan, aimed at the complete annihilation of the enemy, is designed to keep our own losses to a minimum. With adequate supplies and superiority in all arms, our forces are intent on battering and starving the Japanese out of their holes rather than forcing the issue in costly infantry attacks. Nevertheless, the gains have not been cheaply made.

With the Japanese garrison remnants gradually being split up into smaller pockets the battle scene at Buna- is becoming confused. Australians and Americans have now fought a, way to, the Government station garden southeast of the mission. This is a substantial bite into the supply line and defence chain linking the two central ixnnts of Japanese resistance at Buna—airfield and mission. Another slanting, drive is aimed at reaching the coast east of the mission. Success in this drivu will bring the beachhead campaign at Bunn to the mopping-up stage, leaving the enemy only a. 300-yard strip of fortress. But advances are proving difficult. The Japanese fortifications are planned in depth and by avoiding one stmngpoint our men frequently found themselves under fire from a covering strongpoint Many of these are so stoutly constructed as to defy our artillery fire. Then- own fire is directed by snipers posted in trees. Often tin 13-ton General Stuart tanks, which are ail effective answer to these emplacements. have been defeated by the swampy nature of the ground. The human limit is also placed °n tank accomplishments by the hot steamy climate of Papua. War correspondents report that Christmas Day for our front line troops attacking the fortress area was “much the same a.s other days.”