STIFFENING ENEMY RESISTANCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 15, 13 October 1943, Page 5

STIFFENING ENEMY RESISTANCE

Withdrawal Under Pressure (By Tclojxraph.— Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received October 12, 10 p.m.)

■SYDNEY, October 12. The Japanese who have been retreating up the Ramu Valley in New Guinea toward Madang may now be preparing to make a stand. The first-announcement of stiffening enemy resistance since the Australians began their drive up the valley is made in General MacArthur’s latest communique, which refers to the Japanese continued withdrawal as “under pressure.” . . , , Enemy defence positions have been located near Kumbarum, four miles northeast of Diimpii, and Japanese patrols are being pushed back to those positions. The Australians’ northward advance has made steady progress in spite of the dynamiting of bridges and other installations by the retreating enemy. Australian “paraguns,” specially designed for being dropped by parachute, have gone into action in the Ramu Valley. The gun crews, all ot whom made the jump into the Markham Valley about a month ago, had to bring their guns across six big rivers and innumerable creeks. When jeeps were hauling them, the guns sometimes bogged down and the gunners manhandled both weapons and vehicles.