CLASH WITH JAPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 242, 14 October 1942, Page 5

CLASH WITH JAPS

LIKELY INJ'2W GUINEA PATROLS EXCHANGING LIGHT FIRE (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) (Recd. 10 p.m.) Sydney, Oct. 13. Japanese troops are now reported to be occupying positions covering the Owen Stanley trail just south of Templeton’s Crossing, which is the last objective, in the heights of the mountains before the rapid descent begins to Kokoda, 12 miles away. Opposing patrols have been skirmishing ami exchanging light fire. No official estimate has been given of the size of this Japanese forward force, and there is no indication whether the enemy intends to make a determined stand or whether his purpose is merely to hamper the Australian drive. A spokesman at General MacArthur's headquarters said to-day that Allied troops were believed to have made some advance northward from both Kagi and Myola, which are on alternative routes at the summit of the ranges. It is believed the Australians will soon be ready to continue their push, and that the present somewhat obscure and confused situation will be clarified within the next few days. For almost a week the Australian forces have been Halted in the area of the Gap, consolidating their forward positions and strengthening their supply line. Now that the land threat to Port Moresby has been removed, no sound strategic reason exists for the immediate continuation of the advance. Over-eagerness might have serious consequences.

Latest reports warn against the view that the Japanese have completely abandoned the Buna-Kokoda area. Allied planes were active on Monday in bombing and strafing attacks along the enemy supply trail and at Buna. One possibility is that the Japanese are maintaining holding forces in the area and that their future actions will be governed by the outcome of the Solomons battle, now believed to be nearing a climax. Enemy success in the Solomons would undoubtedly be a prelude to a renewed offensive against Port Moresby, while a decisive defeat might result in the abandonment of their New Guinea operations. The present skirmishing in the ranges is taking place at an altitude of about 5000 feet. The area is a fairly flat plateau covered with a dense rain forest. Much more difficult country lies both ahead and behind the opposing forces. Once driven out of their present positions the Japanese would be unlikely to offer substantial resistance, at least until the Australian drive has penetrated to the Kokoda area.

JAP SEAPLANE TENDER

HEAVILY DAMAGED BY AUSTRALIANS (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Sydney, Oct. 12. Australian Hudson bombers have heavily damaged a 10,000ton Japanese seaplane tender, leaving it motionless. Two direct hits were scored on the ship as it steamed with a destroyer escort south of St. George’s Channel, between New Britain and .New Ireland. Twelve Zero fighters were packed wing-tip to wing-tip on the upper deck of the tender. The vessel was first sighted by a lone Hudson on reconnaissance, but other planes of the unit were quickly

called to the scene. After the bombing. a destroyer was observed slowly circling the tender, which appeared to have been severely hit and to be unable to move under its own power. Ng new developments have been reported in the New Guinea land battle, but some correspondents say that the Australian troops have now covered the entire area of the gap through the Owen Stanley Range.

A headquarters spokesman stated to-day that any delay in the Australian advance was because of the necessary reorganisation of supplies and troops. There was no indication that they had been slowed down by the enemv.

There is still no information available as to the size of the Japanese forces in the area.

Havocs and Airacobras on Sunday morning machine-gunned barges on the beach at Buna. It is not known

whether these barges were loading or unloading. Strafing planes also raided two unnamed native villages near Buna, both likely places for the enemy to dump stores. The marked and so far unchallenged Allied air superiority in the South-west Pacific is causing general satisfaction. The value of sustained raids on Rabaul cannot be too highly stressed. Its horse-shoe harbour shelters most of the enemy shipping moving south from the main Japanese bases in the Caroline and Marshall Islands, and its temporary immobilisation must be of immense help to the American forces in the Solomons as well vs to the Allied forces in New Guinea. Rabaul’s airfields and harbour would inevitably figure in any Japanese plans for a new offensive in this theatre. But three heavy raids within a week, when 112 tons of bombs have been dropped, must have considerably reduced its value. The successful air attack on the enemy seaplane tender, which was almost certainly based at Rabaul, illustrates the force? of to-day’s Sydney Herald’s editorial comment that ‘ Japanese shipping is being harried at points so far from any adequate repair bases that the enemy must have growing difficulty in serving his ffronts as distant as Kiska and Guadalcanar, while maintaining essential transport throughout the vast area he has overrun. “The air resources of the Allies are beginning to tip the scales against the enemy, whose production capacity and technical equipment are considerably inferior to ours.”