JAPANESE ACTIVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 177, 29 July 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE ACTIVE

SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC

Allied Patrols Make Contact

Inland From Buna

Special Australian Correspondent United Press Association.—Copyright

SYDNEY, July 28. The Japanese again raided Townsville early this morning. A single enemy flying-boat was picked up by searchlights and driven off by antiaircraft fire. Its bombs were jettisoned harmlessly. This is reported f rom General Mac Arthur s Headquarters. Darwin was also raided on Monday night by a small force or from three to five enemy planes. No damage and no casualties are reported.

Allied planes on Monday continued their attack on Gona, where the Japanese landed on the Papuan coast a week ago Douglas Dauntless divebombers blew up an ammunition dump. Our planes also made two strong night attacks on Koepang, in Timor. Direct hits were scored' on the aerodrome and adjoining barraSJcs J an , d shelters, starting fires. 10-days communique reveals that the enemy advance forces have now penetrated 55 miles from the coast. 1 h <t y have again been in contact With Allied patrols at Oivi, east of Kokoda, on the track from Buna to Port Moresby. The objective of the enemy penetration so far inland is not yet clear. However, in view of the difficult country ahead, it is generally considered highly improbable that the Japanese intend an immediate direct overland attack on Port Moresby. Reason For Inland Move A more likely purpose is that they have fanned out to protect the aerodrome to be established in the Gona area as a base for fighter interception of Allied bombers attacking their South-west Pacific strongholds and from which to concentrate heavier bombing attacks on Port Moresby.

The enemy nuisance raids on Darwin and Townsville are regarded as merely of a diversionary nature, though they may soon develop to more formidable proportions. Gona, after six days of heavy Allied air attacks, is thick with bomb craters. Allied claims to have caused considerable damage in the area are generally regarded as conservative. The Sydney Morning Herald declares that Japanese strategy in the South-west Pacific hinges on their main southward base, Rabaul. The occupation of Gona is seen as an offensive-defensive move designed primarily to protect Rabaul from our attacks, though it may quickly assume a more serious direct offensive character.

We have every good ground for feeling as uneasy about the northern coast of New Guinea as do the Americans about the enemy's toeholds in the outer Aleutian Islands," .says the Herald. "The proper riposte from us is obvious. It has long been evident that Allied forces in Australia must hold New Guinea if their designed task is not to become much more difficult. To throw the Japanese out of Rabaul will doubtless require large-scale operations now that the enemy has had ample time to fortify himself there, but the effort demanded will be still greater if he is allowed to consolidate auxiliary bases over a wide region of the New Guinea mainland. The need is for the creation of an aggressive front in the South-west Pacific."