MUST BE SMASHED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 226, 25 September 1942, Page 5

MUST BE SMASHED

JAPANESE OUTFLANKING MOVEMENT (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Sydney, Sept. 23. An outflanking movement to smash the Japanese supply lines behind the Owen Stanley Range is urged by Mr. W. M. Hughes. “The war in New Guinea will not be won merely by Allied troops holding their own against the Japanese,” says Mr. Hughes. “That can produce at best a dangerous stalemate. The Japanese must be driven back so that they cannot continue to menace Port Moresby. An offensive must be carried out primarily to smash the enemy supply lines behind their forward forces on the Owen Stanley Range. Air activity to smash supply lines is not enough. The offensive must be a combined one, and men must be placed in adequate numbers, with proper support, well behind the enemy lines.” In order to develop their supply line at Buna and Kokoda, the Japanese are using coolie workers, and there are also signs that native labour is being impressed. The Sydney Morning Herald war corr spondent says it is evident that the Japanese expect to build a major i supply route across the •mountains. The capability of enemy engineering units is demonstrated by the fact that a bridge spanning the Kumusi River, damaged on Monday by our bombers, was repaired within 24 hours. It was damaged a second time in an air attack on Tuesday.