PAPUA PROBE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 258, 30 July 1942, Page 5

PAPUA PROBE

Japanese Outpost Driven Back TOWNSVILLE RAID AGAIN FAILS Bv Telegraph- Press A*’r>u —l.’ouy rliflit.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 29. Offensive action by strong Allied combat patrols on Tuesday drove back advanced elements of the Japanese land forces in the Kokoda area, says a communique from Allied headquarters. The enemy had established outpost positions.

[Kokoda is a village 6000 ft. above sea level and half-way along the track between Gona Mission and Port 'Moressy, being near the mouth of the pass- through the 12,000 ft. range.] War correspondents were told today that there io no evidence of enemy reinforcements having arrived at Gona, While skirmishing has been ■taking place in the heavy jungle country of the hinterland the Allied air forces are still causing havoc among the enemy’s lauded stores and ground installations. -On Tuesday also a further bombing raid was made on Koeipaug, Timor. The enemy on Tuesday night made a “one plane” raid on Port Moresby, but its bombs did no damage. It is not considered likely that the enemy land forces in the Kokoda area wil make any early attempt to infiltrate behind the Allied forces holding Port Moresby. Up till this point their move has been fairly easy, but from Kokoda, at. tlie northern base of the Owen Stanley ranges, the terrain presents grave difficulties. Some observers believe the enemy land forces may try to drive east, skirting the ranges, and break through on to the southern Papuan coast at about the township of Rigo. This, would place them in a position to attack Port Moresby from the right flank. A lone Japanese flying-boat, when attempting the third raid on Townsville early this morning, was driven off by Allied night-fighters, and is believed to have been destroyed. No damage was done by the raider, which jettisoned its bombs in this sea when it was intercepted. It was hit repeatedly by machinegun fire and was last seen losing height rapidly as it fled out to sea, and it is improbable that the plane was able to reach its base.