JUNGLE CLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 24290, 3 September 1942, Page 5

JUNGLE CLASHES

ACTIVITY IN KOKODA AREA ENEMY THRUSTS OF INGREASING STRENGTH (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, September 2. The increased enemy activity in the Kokoda sector of Papua may mean that the Japanese, having failed at Milne Bay, intend to try forcing their way to Port Moresby across the difficult Owen Stanley Mountains. Such efforts would probably be supported by a simultaneous move on Port Moresby from another direction. Persistent infiltration in the direction of the mountains is occurring, and the enemy is now in high country beyond Kokoda. Fighting on an increased scale is reported about 2,000 ft above sea level. To-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters says: “ Our ground forces are closely engaged in jungle fighting against enemy thrusts of increasing strength.” The war correspondents report that bayonet clashes occurred between opposing patrols. Although the tempo of the action is rising, the fighting up to date cannot be described as heavy. The enemy has barely begun to tackle the hardest portion of hie task in this sector. In the meantime the Japanese moves nro handicapped by adverse weather and the flooding of rivers at vital points. The main enemy thrusts during the past few days are said to have been directed against some steep slopes leading to a pass through the ranges. Allied fighter aircraft have closely supported our ground defences. On Tuesday two strong strafing attacks were made on advanced enemy positions and on their lines of communication, along which supplies are being moved from Buna to Kokoda. It is understood that the attacks were mad'e by Airacobras, which stormed along the valleys in the foothills of the range. Japanese aircraft have not yet attempted to support their troops in this sector. “ Scattered jungle fighting of the guerrilla • type continues at Milne Bay,” says to-day’s communique, referring to the continued mopping-up operations by Australian troops. Increased numbers of dead Japanese are being found by the advancing Australians, and casualties caused by Allied fighter sweeps were evidently high. Whatever the reason for the Japanese withdrawal from Milne Bay, it was certainly a hurried operation. Religious consideration as well as .fear that the enemy # intelligence might discover valuable information from notebooks and equipment ordinarily impel the Japanese to gather up their dead before retiring, but on this occasion even some wounded were left behind. AUSTRALIA AS OBJECTIVE JAPANESE MILITARY PLANS THE CO-PROSPERITY PROGRAMME NEW YORK, Sept. 1. _ “The Japanese are .very serious in their intention and effort to take Australia,” declared Mr Otto D. Tolischus, the well-known foreign correspondent, who recently returned from Tokio. He added that the Japanese had always included Australia in their greater coprosperity programme. Japanese militarists felt that they must conquer Australia and Siberia in order to eliminate such bases for attack. It seemed that the frequent bombings of Darwin indicated that Darwin and North Australia were the first objectives of the Japanese as bases. Asked what likely plan the Japanese had in mind if they succeeded in occupying Australia, Mr Tolischus said that undoubtedly the one single purpose of the Japanese in all the captured countries was to utilise existing institutions under Japanese control and for Japan ese profit, ultimately transforming them into completely Japanese institutions. Mr Tolischus' pointed out, however, that the* American occupation of the Solomons had changed the whole outlook of the Japanese programme with regard to Australia. JAPAN'S WEAKNESSES BIG STRAIN OH SPEARHEAD TROOPS NEW YORK, Sept. 1. ’ “ The Japanese are not so strong as their early victories would indicate,” declares Mr Joseph Harsoh, the correspondent of the ‘ Christian Science Monitor,’ who has just returned from covering the Pacific war. But, he adds, “ they are sufficiently strong to fight a long, liard war, demanding the utmost exertion from the Allies. “ The Allies’ defensive strategy, plus Tokio’s ability to use the same crack troops as spearheads for successive drives, has given a misleading impression of the size and ability of the Japanese army,” Mr Harsch explains. “ Actually, Japan seems to possess a relatively small attacking force of firstline troops, and she has used the same men in Burma, Malaya, the Philippines, and the Netherlands East Indies.” Mr Harsch makes the following contentions:— 1. The air battles in the Pacific are trivial compared with those in Europe, as Japan does not possess a large air force, and according to modern standards she also lacks the ability to make large-scale replacements. 2. The Japanese High Command shows a surprising mastery of modern strategy and tactics, but the junior officers have not succeeded in eliminating their medieval outlook, and they are obsessed with the do-or-die determination, and waste troops on impossible tasks. 3. The Japanese have succeeded at many points by very narrow margins. 4. The Japanese have weakened themselves by dispersing their strength over too many points. MEXICAN BASES FACILITIES FOR WARSHIPS AND PLANES MEXICO CITY, September 1. The President, General Camacho, in a message to the Congress, said he would shortly submit a measure extending to the European Powers fighting the Axis the right for warships and planes to use Mexican ports and airfields. He also announced that ho was creating a National Defence Council to govern wartime production and coordinate the whole war effort. Tin: council will be composed of representatives of the Government, agriculture, labour, business, industry, and the professions.