JAPANESE OUTPOSTS FORCED BACK

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 16, 14 October 1943, Page 5

JAPANESE OUTPOSTS

FORCED BACK

Fighting In New Guinea (Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received October 13, 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 13. For three days grim fighting: has been taking place on razor-back ridges at scat tered points over a 10-mile front in the foothills of the. gaunt Fimsterre'fountains which skirt the Ramu Valley in New Guinea* . ufarinnff A.I.F. troops advancing on Mauang have inflicted “appreciable, losses on Japanese outposts in the Una v alley, an offshoot of the Ramu Valley, and enemy outpost troops have been driven iiom their positions. . , In their progress along the Ramu 1 alley the Australians have now captured enemy strongpoints beyond Kunibarum, which is four miles from Dumpu. The Japanese at one point have been pushed back one and a half miles with heavy casualties. Conununications in Danger. In mopping up operations north of Finschhafen other Australian forces have killed more than 400 Japanese. Alter their headlong retreat through the Markham and Ramu Valleys the Japanese are row fighting to retain command of the chain of foothills linking with the end of the vital motor road to Madang. This road begins only 20 miles away. The present action is developing as a battle for the enemy’s whole line of communication. War correspondents suggest, however, that the enemy’s present resistance is merely intended as an ineffectual answer to the Australians’ 2a-pouuder “paraguns.” Enemy soldiers are reported to be well fed and well equipped. There is evidence that their defence is being directed through efficient radio, equipment, lhe prepared defensive positions in the area were the first the Australians' had encountered iu their 45 miles’ advance from Kaiapit, 40 miles north of Lae, which they began on September 28. Territory in which the fighting is taking place is stated to be as difficult as the Owen Stanley Range country, scene of the first big New Guinea battles against the Japanese. To cover five miles took an Australian war correspondent eight hours.