JAPANESE HOLD IN NEW GUINEA

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 103, 26 January 1943, Page 5

JAPANESE HOLD IN NEW GUINEA

Remains Powerful (By I I'legrai.’h. - Press Assn - t 'Opv right.J (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received January 25, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 25. "From a long-term view the war picture for tlie Allies in the Pacific shows many hopeful features. However, Australia and New Zealand have not to concern themselves Immediately with long-range policy, but with checking and repulsing the implacable and swarming foe. For these tasks all the aid which the United Nations tire able to send to this theatre will be needed.” This comment on the war in the Pacific is made today by tlie “Sydney Morning Herald” in an editorial review of tlie Papuan campaign, which has now been successfully concluded.

“However little the Japanese may relish the taste of defeat, they are not likely to regard the abortive invasion of Papua as it wasted enterprise,” says the "Herald.” "Their losses have been far greater than ours, but these must be measured in relation Io their present, vast preponderance of trained soldiery. Paputl is merely a geographical designtition mid not a military entity, and tlie Japanese still bold late. Snlanuiim and other bases to the north on the great island of New Guinea. At these points they have been steadily reinforcing while their Bunn-Goim troops were lighting tt tielaying action to the last man. “Australians should realize Hie continuing strength of the enemy's position in tlie great arc extending round this country's north,? adds Hie “Herald.” Particularly in the north-east, the Japanese are again mustering great strength in men, planes and ships. From Rabaul ami its subsidiary bases enemy aircraft particularly are operating witli renewed and menacing vigour.” In Hie meantime, tlie first benefit of Japanese eviction from Papua is already becoming apparent. Native rubber tappers who have been serving ns carriers for Hie Allied forces are going back Io their peacetime jobs. Papua normally produces 1.5(X>,0001b. of raw rubber annually. and most of the larger plantations expect to maintain their production for the present season at this level. Tlie Allied troops, who are now resting after the strenuous Papuan campaign, arc reported by war correspondents to be convinced that Hie physical obstacles .ahead in New Guinea cannot: possibly be worse Hum those they have already encountered and overcome. The Minister of Shipping, Mr. Beasley, said in Sydney today: “The enemy is still al our gates, mid if we tire to survive we must face stark reality. \Ve cannot, and must not, undcr-estiniate the enemy’s capacity to attack flic vital centres of our production.”