JAPANESE LANDING
LONDON, January 29. A Batavia communique states that Japanese troops landed on the west coast of Borneo, exerting heavy pressure on the defenders. The enemy obtained local successes. All the Important objectives were destroyed beforehand. Speaking of the Japanese attack on Rabaul, Australian airmen who have returned to Sydney said that “scorched earth” tactics were fully employed before the Japanese landed in New Britain, all aerodromes, buildings and petrol dumps being destroyed. “We knew it would be impossible to hold out, therefore extensive demolition was resorted to." The men expressed the opinion that the Armed Forces defending Rabaul would be able to carry on for several weeks, largely by means of guerrilla warfare. The Australian airmen were pitted against a swarm of modern fast enemy fighters in the main raid when about 300 bombs of all types were dropped by the enemy. While taking refuge on the ground the airmen crouched in slit trenches, which afforded the most' effective protection.
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Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22184, 30 January 1942, Page 6
Word Count
162JAPANESE LANDING Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22184, 30 January 1942, Page 6
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