NEW THREAT MAY BE SEVERE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 284, 29 August 1942, Page 7

NEW THREAT MAY BE SEVERE

Milne Bay Landing

BUT VALUE DEPENDS ON SOLOMONS

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Corroapondent.)

(Received August 28, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 28

The advantages to the Japanese of Milne Bay, which they are trying to seize, are assessed as being, first, a gain in position for the Solomons struggle, which the Japanese must expect will grow in intensity; secondly, to ensure control of Torres Strait (between north Queensland and New Guinea), which would discount the protective value of Port Moresby to the Allies; and, thirdly, to place longrange enemy planes, both land-|)ased and water craft, within close striking distance of the Australian mainland (Milne Bay is 650 miles from Townsville). “The Japanese attempt to take Milne Bay cannot be divorced from the action in the Solomons," says the "Sydney Morning Herald’s" war correspondent. "If our forces in the .Solomons go on to other successes and recapture the whole group, Milne Bay would be useless to the Japanese, and any garrison they might establish there would be cut oft. “On the other hand, if they successfully countered our move in the Solomons, possession of Milne Bay would add tremendously to the strength of their grip on the south-west Pacific.” However, it is by no means certain that the enemy will succeed in taking Milne Bay. Even should they gain an initial success they will have difficulty in holding it without strong air protection. Route To Fort Moresby. ’ There are no topographical obstacles excepting lakes and rivers between Milne Bay and Port Moresby, 220 miles along the southern New Guinea coast.

The scale of the land fighting at present taking place at Milne Bay is not known, but it is expected here that the next 4S hours will decide “whether the Japanese have sent a boy to do a man’s job.” The general picture of the newest enemy expedition suggests that restricted forces landing at Milne Bay might be intended to “soften” the area for a larger invasion force at a later date. The threat to Port Moresby, it is now emphasized, would then become grave. The difficulty of dislodging the Japanese once they have landed is pointed out by the Sydney “Daily Telegraph,” which says, “Invariably once they hit the cover of the jungle the Japanese are difficult to root out. They have proved thus in the Kokoda area. Their limpet-like regard for even minor gains makes them hard even for a superior force to dislodge." The convoy from which the enemy landed was attacked by fighter bombers near the Trobrland Islands on Tuesday, when a gunboat was sunk and two transports strafed.

The statement that the convoy was small is believed to indicate that the enemy troops landed were not in large numbers.

Milne Bay offers sheltered waters, and a move by the enemy in this direction has been anticipated' since the Buna landing. The bay is about 10 miles wide across the entrance, and 20 miles .deep. The foreshore is fiat and fringed with mangroves. There are no big settlements, but the area is one of the most cultivated in New Guinea. Several crocodile-in. .-led creeks run into the bay. • No Jap Umbrella. The enemy landings were made without air support, and some observers sugwst that this lack of air support is connected with the spectacular Allied coups against grounded Japanese fighters at Buua. Thirteen planes were destroyed in raids on Tuesday. On Wednesday six more were added, making a total of 19 in two days. The fact that the Japanese have been caught off guard on two successive days supports the view expressed by a' headquarters spokesman that it would be difficult for the enemy to establish a base in this sector of Papua in the face of our air opposition. Our aircraft, flying across the Owen Stanley Range, give little warning of their approach to the Japanese. ConTersely, our ground forces on tlie northern side of the ranges are able to give adequate warning to lort Moresby when enemy aircraft are about, to make attacks. General .MacArthur’s headquarters communique stated that, the landing was made with heavy losses in the face of tierce attacks by Plying Fortresses, Marauder medium bombers, and Kiltyhawks. Extremely bad weather probably assisted the enemy landings by hampering the Allied air attacks, but the convoy has since taken a relentless hammering. Allied planes have sunk a transport, heavily damaged and probably sunk a cruiser, and damaged a destroyer. Six landing barges were also destroyed and tires started among supplies ashore. Allied air attacks are continuing from low altitudes in spite of weather