STILL MOVING FORWARD

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 22, 21 October 1942, Page 5

STILL MOVING FORWARD

Australians In Owen Stanleys LULL IN AIR WAR (Received October 20, 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 20. The Japanese manifestly have no intention of abandoning their New Guinea campaign. They are holding grimly to positions in the heights of the Owen Stanley Ranges at Eora Creek, the village about eight hours’ trail distance from Kokoda. Ou Monday they /launched three counter-attacks, but were driven back with heavy losses. Allied) units, still forcing their way forward, have _to drive the enemy from a continuing series of foxholes and machinegun nests. It appears that the Japanese are fighting a determined holding action, and no doubt their subsequent moves will be largely dictated by the outcome of the battle now waging for the Solomons. In the event of an Allied victory there, it seems likely that Japan’s New Guinea campaign will wither away. Conversely, a Japanese victory (would probably be a prelude to renewed offensive efforts against Fort Moresby. Along the northern Papuan coast, it would appear that the enemy still has strong garrisons at his Lae and Salamaua bases. Some spread of his occupation of this coastline is evident by .reports of recent Allied air attacks on (Japanese positions at the mouth of the Mambare River, between Buna and Salaanaua. The latest communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters reports no offensive air activity during the past 24 hours. It is believed, however, that there was at least one Allied bombing attack against Japanese concentrations on Monday night, but reports have not yet been, received.