BUNA FALLS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 296, 16 December 1942, Page 5

BUNA FALLS

OCCUPIED BY U.S. FORCES SHATTERING BARRAGE (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) (Reed. 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, Dec. 15. Buna village, one of the last throe strongholds in the Japanese Papuan beach-head, has been completely occupied by American troops. Following a shattering mortar barrage they burst through the enemy’s defences and by 10 o’clock on Monday morning the village was in their hands. No further details of the occupation are yet available, but the fall of the village gravely weakens the enemy hold on the nearby Buna Mission and the air-strip at Sananandra Point. The Japanese in this sector now have Australian troops on their left and Americans on their right, while they are further menaced by the combined Allied force now attacking Sanananda. Heavy fighting continues in the Buna Mission and Sanananda sectors. The battle area along the coastal beach-head is stated to be “feet deep in mud and slush” following the storms of the past few days. The New Guinea wet season has now well begun and will last about four months. It presents some difficulties for the beleaguered Japanese but far more for the attackers. These rains have intensified the isolation of the Japanese strong-points, which are separated by swamp and jungle as effectively as any islands of the sea. The possible use of armoured fighting vehicles is completely eliminated, while both air and artillery bombardments are restricted by the sodden landing-fields and the increased difficulties of moving guns, ammunition and supplies. No news is yet available of casualties in the Buna village lighting, nor whether the Japanese duplicated their earlier Gona suicide stand. Buna village had been in a state of siege for about live weeks but the enemy is not

INDIA PREPARED (Recd. 11.5 p.m.) Madras, Dec. 15. “The threat to India is much less to-day than seven or eight months ago. We arc now very much better prepared,” declared General Wavell at a press conference. He added that there was some enemy submarine activity around India but it was not doing any great damage.

believed to be desperately short of supplies in this area. His artillery, mortars and lighter weapons appeared to be plentifully supplied with ammunition. while food and stores have been dropped in the area by enemy aircraft on several occasions. Slight Allied gains are reported near' Sanananda, and a further shrinking of the Japanese beach-head reaffirms the inevitable final result of the battle, though the decision may not be an immediate one. CONVOY SMASHED “HOLOCAUST OF BLAZING STORES” (Recd. 9.35 p.m.) Sydney, Dec. 15. A major Japanese attempt to reinforce their doomed Papuan garrison has been smashed by Allied air forces. Hundreds of enemy dead were washed ashore following a tvvo-day attack on a cruiser and destroyer convoy off the mouths of the Kumusi and Mambare Rivers. The Japanese undoubtedly succeeded in getting ashore some troops and supplies, hut the effort was made only | at terrible cost. The number of enemy troops landed has not been officially estimated, but it is not considered that they will constitute any grave menace to the Allied forces in Papua. The Kumusi estuary is 18 miles north-west of Buna, and Mambare is a further 24 miles along th? coast. The landed enemy troops therefore have a long trek to join the Jaoane.se Buna-Sanananda garrison, and they will find the way blocked by Allied forces. They may, however, attempt to open up a second Papuan beachhead, leaving their compatriots in tne Buna area to their fate. The convoy of two cruisers and destroyers made a landing attempt and was attacked throughout Sunday and Monday. Direct hits and near misses were claimed on the warships, which were finally scattered and withdrew to the north. No sinkings of naval units were claimed Allied bombers, attack planes and ’ fighters ran a shuttle service over the ' landing area. Many troop-laden k barges were destroyed and their oc- : ■ cupants drowned. Supply dumps on . the beach are reported ’to have been J converted into “a holocaust of blaz- ’ i ing stores, exploding ammunition and burning fuel.” The convoy was firs' sighted off Madang on the north Now Guinea coast early on Sunday. As it came down the coast Flying Fortresses and Liberators damaged the warships with near misses. However, bad weather with heavy rainstorms helped hide the convoy and landing operations were conducted on Sunday ’ night, the vessels standing some miles off-shore from the Kumusi and Mambare estuaries. At dawn on Monday Allied airmen ’ launched vicious attacks, and through[out the day Fortresses. Havocs. Aira- ; cobras and Beaufighters were over Jhe area. The enemv was given no . 'respite, and by late afternoon most of ; the Japanese barges, well laden with I supplies, are believed to have beer. J destroyed. Explosions and fires oc- ’ curred on the barges as well as ‘ among the sunnlv dumps ashore, and ' to-day’s communloue frr-n General ’ MacArthur’s headouarters claims: .“The major enemv effort was largely 1 ;narried?” One large group of about ’ |'/0 barges was consumed in a sea of 1 'fire. When th? Japanese attempted to swim ashore our airmen machinegunned and set on fire barrels of oil floating in *lip sea. so that the swimmers certainly perished. Fifteen Zeros attempted to drive off our planes but they were unsuccessful. Two Zeros as well as one enemy bomber were shot down. Over New Britain two more Zeros were destrowed when they attempted to intercept an Allied reconnaissance] unit.