IMPORTANT ADVANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 November 1942, Page 3

IMPORTANT ADVANCE

MADE BV AMERICANS IN GUADALCANAL EASTWARD OF HENDERSON AIRFIELD. STRONG ENEMY POSITIONS TAKEN IN NEW GUINEA. LONDON, November 10. In the Solomons the American forces on Guadalcanal have made another ink portant advance eastward of Henderson airfield. In New Guinea Allied troops have overwhelmed a strong Japanese position 55 miles south of Buna and inflicted heavy casualties. Fighting is still going on. Allied bombers are attacking the enemy front line and fighters are striking at the rear. GOOD PROGRESS IN ALLIED-ENVELOPING MOVEMENTS. SUCCESSFUL AIR OPERATIONS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 10. Heavy casualties are being inflicted on the Japanese in flanking and enveloping movements launched by the Allies in the Oivi sector. Severe fighting continues, but our losses are stated to have been comparatively light. In one of several actions the Australians killed and wounded more than 100 Japanese. The enemy here is in danger of being cut oft' by an encircling of his positions established in depth between Oivi and Gorari, six miles nearer Buna. Two Allied forces continue 4o make progress and today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters speaks of the Gorari position beingenveloped. Fighting is now stated to have moved out of the jungle into the open country. Mortars, and light and heavy ma-chine-guns are the principal weapons employed. The Allied aircraft are giving increased support to our troops, while the Japanese appear to have been deserted by their air force. On Monday, Havocs, Beauflghters and Marauders made bombing and strafing attacks on the enemy’s forward positions and lines of communications. No news has been released of the activities of the American land force in the Buna area. Today’s communique reports a successful attack by North American bombers on a 5000-ton transport oft Cape Saint George, the southern tip of New Ireland. A direct hit was scored on the ship, which listed heavily and had to be beached to prevent sinking. It is not known whether the ship, which was apparently bound for the Solomons, carried troops or supplies Long-distance Catalina flying-boats raided aerodrome runways and dispersal areas at Kavieng, New Ireland. American and Australian army engineers, with the assistance of native labour, are constructing aerodromes in New Guinea at record speed. In one forward area Australian troops widened the narrow landing strip so Jnat it was ready for use in two days. American engineers, with willing native helpers, had another aerodrome in use in two days and a half. Trees had to be felled, high grass cut, swampy areas filled, and runways prepared. In addition, natives built several houses and shelters. DANGERS REVERSED. American war commentators continue to praise the bold strategy adopted by the Allies in New Guinea. ‘'The dangerous situation existing in New Guinea in the middle of September has been reversed through the imaginative use of modern methods of warfare, reflecting the highest credit on General MacArthur and the men under his command,” says the New York 'Her-ald-Tribune” editorially. “Combat in the wild Pacific islands demands success in the problems of logistics as a pre-requisite for success against the enemy. The Allied counter-offensive in New Guinea demonstrates the ability to cope with these problems which is supremely important for the ruture course of the Pacific war. If Papua is cleared, all New Guinea can be converted from a Japanese spearhead against Australia to a shield for the southern Continent. Taken with the improved American position m the Solomons it is clear that the Japanese will be put upon their mettle to stay the slow, steady shift in the tide of war apparently developing in the Pacific. The Japanese will almost certainly win some successes in the future, but the Americans and their Allies are now certain to meet them .with new confidence in their leadership in the field.” . PILOT GOES ASTRAY AND FINDS GOOD AIRFIELD. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, November 10. An Allied pilot who became lost in a rainstorm over Papua is revealed to have played a major part in the plans for retaking Buna. Just before his petrol was exhausted he found a smooth strip of grassland on which he made a perfect landing. This strip later became the airfield to which the American troops were flown before setting out on their jungle trek to the Buna area. The route through the jungle was pioneered by a nicked Australian force, which suffered hardships even greater than those encountered on the Owen Stanley trail. They had to travel with .mud and slime sometimes up to their waists. Supplies became low, and for some days the party was on half-rations. Before the Australians finished their journey the boots of many had rotted through. Some are stated to have marched many miles barefooted.