ENEMY HEADWAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1942, Page 3

ENEMY HEADWAY

IN HEAVY INFILTRATION ATTACK REPORTED BY ALLIED HEADQUARTERS. HIGHEST POINT IN GAP PASSED. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, September 10. The latest communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters states that the enemy launched a heavy infiltration attack which is making headway. The enemy are reported to be more than 12 miles beyond Myola (and therefore at least 20 miles south of Kokoda). The Australian positions outflanked are outposts. The latest communique from General MacArthur's headquarters states that the enemy launched a heavy infiltration attack, which is making headway. The Japanese have passed the highest point in the Hell’s Gap pass and are now down to 4600 feel on the southern side of the mountains.

Though this new announcement from General MacArthur’s headquarters places an undeniably graver complexion on the situation, a final assessment is not possible at this stage. The Japanese are believed to be nearing contact with the main defensive line of the Australian forces. The present fighting may decide the possession of the pass area. On August 6 a headquarters spokesman described the Allies’ positions along the Owen Stanley Range as “almost impassable.” Nothing in today’s communique reveals the actual time taken by the Japanese to advance from Myola. However, yesterday’s communique described the situation at Myola as static. One factor making an assessment cf the situation difficult is that in the rear of the Allied main positions are numerous razorbacks, and the country ahead of the enemy presents difficulties quite as great as those left behind. Many of the ravines are deeper than 1000 feet, and the Allied defensive positions are believed to be established at strategic points along the way. A headquarters spokesman stated

today that the threat of our positions must be regarded as serious, though not yet grave.