The Evening Star THURSDAY, AUGUST 27. 1942. NEW GUINEA WAR ZONE.

Evening Star, Issue 24284, 27 August 1942, Page 4

The Evening Star THURSDAY, AUGUST 27. 1942. NEW GUINEA WAR ZONE.

While a battle is again raging oil tic Solomon Islands Allied planes under General MacArthur’s command are keeping a watchful eye on developments in the New Guinea area. Damaging raids have been made on the Japanese bases there and also on Eabaul, in Now Britain. This good work, which not only contributes to the defence of I’ort Moresby but also hampers the enemy in his task of reinforcing the Solomons, was recently amplified by an attack on a new convoy of Japanese warships and transports just north of the south-east tip of New Guinea. The direction in which the enemy ships were heading h-' not been revealed, but a glance at the map shows that they could have been making for the present storm centre in the Solomons or for Port Moresby. Although it would be logical to conclude that they would bo badly needed whore the fighting was fiercest, it is not beyond the bounds of possibility 7 that Port Moresby was their objective. The New Zealand’Press Association’s special Australian correspondent considers that the Solomons action appears likely to spread to other sectors before the battle for the South Pacific is decided, and, quoting reliable sources, says that heavier enemy pressure on Port Moresby is foreseen. It appears likely that, if the Japanese wish to reduce this “Tobruk of the Pacific, ’’ their naval units will have to be utilised to aggressive purpose. Ju the battle for Malaya Allied leadership blundered badly in under-esti-mating enemy ability to advance rapidly on Singapore Island through so-called impenetrable jungles, and it must have been only after a circumspect view of the New Guinea situation had been taken that faith was placed in the natural barriers lying between Buna and Gena, along the north-east coast of Papua, and Port Moresby in the south. The enemy in New Guinea, however, will have to deal with obstacles much more formidable than jungles. The Allied defence lino lias been formed along the almost impassable range of the Owen Stanley mountains. The natural conditions are such that no special threat exists as a result of the enemy’s occupation bf the BunaGona area, which _ can be continually harassed by our air opposition. The Japanese advance inland to the aerodrome at Kokoda was'rather more serious. for they are now only fifteen minutes’ flying time from Port Moresby. On laud, however, the really difficult part of the trek from Buna to Port Moresby would begin at Kokoda. The track to the mountain pass leading south rises sharply within a few miles and can be negotiated only in single file by clambering across saw-tooth slate and limestone ridges._ Later it falls away into steaming ravines, where swift mountain torrents have cut deep precipices and gorges—a frightening prospect for a modern army that must transport heavy equipment. Port Moresby is still another place in the Pacific whose security is most likely being decided by the war at sea.