RAIN IN NEW GUINEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 295, 15 December 1942, Page 5

RAIN IN NEW GUINEA

BOGS DOWN ALLIED OPERATIONS MOPPING UP JAPANESE STRAGGLERS I (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P. A.l (Recd. 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, 14. Torrential tropical rains oi the true New Guinea wet sea on are bogging down Allied ground operations against the last three salients of Japanese resistance at Buna. The remaining strongpoints are at Buna village, Buna mission and Sananannira Point. To-day’s communique from General • MacArthur’s headquarters states thert 1 on Sunday “continuous artillery and ■ mortar fire was maintained on the : enemy positions while the air force made bombing and strafing attacks throughout the day. “These attacks 1 were no doubt designed to ‘soften’ the ’ Japanese posts for full-scale infantry assaults when weather conditions allow. Allied patrols are reported to be still engaged mopping up enemy stragglers east of Gona. A few Japanese who escaped from Gona tried to make their way to the mouths of the muddy creeks, evidently with the hope of joining the Buna garrison. One party wiped out included a lieut-enant-colonel and two other officers. The largest number of prisoners reported captured is 17. Communiques reporting "the Gona fighting made no mention of enemy wounded. It will be recalled that at Milne Bay Japanese officers were reported to have shot the wounded rather than allow them to fall into Allied hands. While much heavy fighting is certain before the Buna beach-head is cleared of the enemy, war commentators are busy examining the strategical implications of the enemy annihilation at Gona. The London Times declared: “The grim conquest had the quality of incredibility. It proves, however, that Japanese holdings can be made to yield to properly-planned and boldlydirected counter-offensives. Although Papua and Guadalcanar are not major points around the barrier of Japanese conquests, nevertheless they are the first foreshadowing Japan’s inevitable downfall.” The New York Herald-Tribune says: “The Allies are now entitled to look ahead to the next steps in the South-west Pacific war. It should be possible to exert pressure from Gona and Buna against Lac and Salamaua, whose capture would directly menace the rear of the whole Japanese operations in the Solomons.” Australian commentators remain more concerned with the hard fighting immediately ahead, and with the revelations of Japanese strengths and weaknesses. Both in the Solomons and in Papua attrition warfare has proven “technically uneconomic” for the enemy, declares the Sydney Herald’s military correspondent. Air activity in the Solomons and New Guinea indicates clearly the Japanese lack of available plane strength io pursue simultaneous aggressive roles in both theatres. In planes as well as shipping Japan is being “bled white.” "ihe aerial aspects of the Pacific war have completely changed,” says a Sydney Herald writer. “It is difficult to see how the Japanese resources can keep pace with the mounting losses of the past four months, especially since the vast flow of American production is steadily increasing the Allied striking power.” Two more Zeros were shot down over Buna on Sunday when they attempted to intercept an Allied reconnaissance unit. Enemy aerodrome installations on the isthmus at Salamaua have been again attacked by our medium bombers. EXPLOSIVE BULLETS USED BY JAPS IN NEW GUINEA Sydney, Dec. 14. Wounded Australian soldiers, back from the Buna-Gona front, tell stones of savage fighting. Many have serious wounds and fractured bones caused by explosive light machine-gun bullets now being used by the Japanese. These bullets, which explode after penetration, cause shocking wounds. “Most of the men hit by them were killed, but those who survived had dreadful injuries,” said one wounded man. All were full of praise for “the iuzzy-wuzzy angels” the native stretcher-bearers. These natives had an intense hatred of the Japanese. Our soldiers had found outraged and mutilated bodies of native women near the Japanese camps “The Japanese are more like wild animals than men,” declared one soldier wounded in the lighting at Gona. “Even when their position was hopeless they had refused to surrender and were blasted out of their holes.” The unanimous opinion among returned men was that the beginning of the end had arrived for the Japanese in New Guinea. The powerful air support which is being given to the Allied ground forces was the decisive factor, and the “biscuit bombers”— supply planes which delivered ammunition and food stores within a few miles of the battle area—had solved many earlier supply problems. HEROISM AT BUNA GERMAN-BORN AMERICAN SERGEANT (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) (Recd. 10.10 p.m.) Sydney, Dec. 14. The heroism of a German-born American sergeant established the salient between Buna Mission and Buna village with a small party and who held the area for more than a week has now been revealed. Sergeant Herman Bottcher, born at Landsberg, near Berlin, 30 years ago, led his men through coconut groves and swamps to the beach. In desperate fighting he was wounded several times. The' Japanese made three attempts to smash the American party, but each time they were repulsed with heavy losses. Sergeant Bottcher made a number of solo expeditions, silencing Japanese machine-guns and destroying defensive works. He has been recommended for a decoration and a commission. From 1927 to 1929 Sergeant Bottcher lived in Australia. Then he went to the United States, and at the outbreak of the Spanish civil war he joined the International Brigade as a private. He rose to the rank of captain. Enlistment in the International Brigade entailed the loss )f his American citizenship and rights, but Sergeant Bottcher was able to return to San Francisco after the war. He speaks with a decided Gorman accent. JAP REINFORCEMENTS MAY HAVE LANDED (Recd. 7.30 p.m.) New York. Dec. 13. The Daily News’ Washington correspondent says that, despite the smashing blow delivered at the Japa- : nese reinforcedment fleet, a handful < of Japanese troops and sunplies may J have reached Guadalcanar. The earlier communique did not claim that ad Japanese'landings were prevented. Furthermore, the spokesman said th? 1 situation was in doubt. ?