DENSE JUNGLE

Evening Star, Issue 24289, 2 September 1942, Page 5

DENSE JUNGLE

AUSTRALIANS " MOPPING UP " AT MILNE BAY POSSIBLE ENEMY MOVIES (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, September 1. The fighting in Milne Bay continues ■ as the victorious Australian troops mop up the scattered remnants of the enemy. The latest reports from General MacArthnr’s headquarters indicate that the struggle is no longer on a grand scale, and the clash.es involve only small groups of Japanese. Because of the dense jungle country in which the abandoned Japanese are hiding some time may elapse before the last of them are cleaned out. The enemy troops wiio landed at Milne Bay arc believed to have been crack assault marines of the Imperial navy. Although eye-witnesses’ accounts do not suggest any major battle during the brief campaign, there were several spirited local engagements. The battleground extended from the foothills of Mount Thompson to the edge of Milne Bay. The final enemy offensive spasm occurred on Monday, when several enemy fighters made a weak attack near the Allied airfield in the Millie Bay area. No damage resulted. World newspapers pay tribute to the Australians for their victory over the. Japanese. They emphasise that, following the heavy blow struck by the United States marines in the Solomons, Japan has lost face twice in a short period. Government sources at Washington praise the grim Australian legions whose courage and tenacity in beating back the Japanese Milne Bay invaders are an inspiration.” HARD FIGHTING AT KOKODA. The London ‘ Evening Standard ’ says the South-west Pacific has again proved its claim to aid, “ not only by reason of its geographical position, but also by the great performances of its fighting men.” There is general belief that the Japanese will strike again, and that further hard fighting in New Guinea is inevitable; indeed, fiierce clashes are now taking place in the mountainous jungle country around Kokoda, where

the Japanese appear to have flung fresh troops into action. Our fighter planes are co-operating with the Australian ground forces in this' area by strafing enemy positions. Allied bombers are maintaining their hammering of Japanese bases, the latest heavy raid being on aerodromes at Lae. where 10 tons of bombs were dropped among grounded aircraft, buildings, and installations. Five fuel dumps and several buildings were blown up, and many grounded planes were destroyed. Fires started in the raid, which caught the enemy by surprice, could be seen 30 miles away. No interception was attempted by the Japanese, and it is thought that they were working to repair planes previously damaged on the aerodrome when our bombers struck. At Buna our heavy bombers attacked an enemy camp, starting fires and silencing an anti-aircraft position. The Australians’ natural elation at the victory at Milne Bay is well expressed by the ‘ Sydney Sun,’ which says: “ Not in this area alone will its effects add strength to the arms of the United Nations. The victory of our jungle fighters will surely reverberate throughout China and India, and its tonic effect will hearten and inspire every country which had reason to fear Japanese domination of the Pacific. But make no mistake—there will be greater and more critical battles than Milne Bay, and they must he won. Rabaul is the key to the situation. Until the enemy is hurled from that base the South-west Pacific cannot feel secure.” CN AIRCRAFT CARRIERS NEW ZEALANDERS' SUCCESSES (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent ) LONDON, August 31. New Zealanders serving in the Fleet Air Arm operated from the. aircraft carriers which were part of the force involved in the recent Malta convoy battle. Sub-lieutenant F. Pennington, of Wellington, shot down two Italians and Sub-lieutenants Hugh Morrison (Masterton) and D. Hill (Wellington) shot down one each. NAZI PARACHUTISTS KILLED AKBUSHED IN CRETE (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, Sept. 1. How Greek patriots in Crete recently killed German parachutists descending during manoeuvres was told by the crew of a Greek ship which arrived at Egypt. The patriots, who were waiting in ambush, took the German parachutists one by one, and after killing many of them, took their guns and am munition and fired on the rest coming down from the sky. Several patriots were killed. The German authorities took severe measures, and executed a great number of patriots who took part in the attack, and hold others as hostages.