ALLIES REGROUP

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXII, Issue 15241, 6 January 1943, Page 3

ALLIES REGROUP

! FOR FINAL BLOW IN PAPUA I 7 j AIR FORCES PREPARE. i j TO SOFTEN SANANANDA DEFENCES | . United Press Assn —Jdy Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, Jan. 5. Australian and American forces are regrouping for a major attack to destroy the remnants of tlie Jap ail ese Papua army strongly entrenched at Sanananda While our aircraft have been active in attacks on enemy positions heavy laud fighting lias not yet occurred but is expected at any time. A high-ranking Australian officer has described the fighting which ended with t-lie capture oi the Buna area as “a series of brilliant actions culminating in tlie conclusive del oat of the enemy. Tine campaign was Hn the nature of siege operations against a series of strongly prepared and mutually supporting positions established in considerable depth. The carefully prepared plan of operations closely co-ordinated and controlled gradually overcame the enemy’s strongholds. During tlie final stages of these operation s tlie enemy’s killed was estimated at 1200.” It is revealed that 35 Korean coolies were included in the GO Japanese prisoners captured in the Buna Mission area. The Koreans showed evidence of general ill-treat-ment and had apparently had little food for some time. In the mop ping-up operations on Monday 50 more Japanese were killed. Although the enemy positions at Sanananda are flanked by swamps whficli present grave difficulties for the attacking force, limiting the use of tanks, the confident note sounded in General MacArthur’s communiques discussing the imminent operations in this area has given rise to hopes of the early liquidation of the Japanese in the salient Havocs and Marauders have begun softening up the enemv positions with bombings and strafing attacks while our artillery is ranging the area. Torrential rail's. are now falling over Northern Papua. It was earlier feared that these might begin before the capture of Buna. thn s adding considerably to the difficulties confronting, our forces.