DRIVEN FROM HILLS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20918, 19 October 1942, Page 3

DRIVEN FROM HILLS

ENEMY IN PAPUA AUSTRALIANS' PUSH DEFENCES IN DEPTH (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) 110.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 18. Australian troops in New Guinea’s Owen Stanley ranges have driven the Japanese from their positions near Templeton’s Crossing on the northern side of the gap. This is revealed in the latest communique issued by General MacArthur’s Headquarters. The first Japanese withdrawal was on Friday, hut no official Allied claims were made. The latest information makes it clear, however, that this strategic area of the mountain heights is now back in Allied hands. No indication has been given of whether the enemy’s withdrawal from Templeton’s Crossing means that they have entirely vacated the ranges. However, it is widely believed among war commentators that once the Japanese were forced from their positions in the heights they would withdraw at least to the fiat country around Kokoda, 12 miles by trail and 5000 ft. below Templeton’s Crossing. For some days, before this further enemy retreat Australian troops had been in steady contact with the Japanese. Fierce, fighting occurred. Both sides employed mortars, with the Australians making strong frontal and flanking attacks. The enemy defences were in considerable depth in rough, rocky country covered with jungle, much, lighter than on the lower slopes of the mountains. The advancing Australians are reported to have found hand grenades the most effective weapon against the Japanese hidden in their artfully-concealed foxholes. Tribute to Doctors A high tribute is paid to the doctors and medical orderlies accompanying the Australian advance. . Frequently the doctors have worked ankle deep in mud, operating on wounded men in grass huts, lighted only by dimmed kerosene lamps. •Enormous problems of supply have also been overcome to reach the area, six days’ normal trail distance from the Port Moresby roadhead. Commenting on this important success in the New Guinea campaign, the Sydney Sun war correspondent writes: “The early quick advance reports of the small casualties and the apparent absence of the Japanese in strength may have led to the belief that this has been an easy campaign. But every man who has trodden the track through the jungle, slept, tired and muscle-worn4in wet clothes, lived for weeks on iron rations and suffered incredible discomforts, has suffered hardships as great as those faced by any early explorers. To these have been added the' Japanese tree-top snipers, the “active skirmishes and aggressive flank patrols” of the communiques and the direct attacks against mortar and machine-gun posiAllied aircraft have continued strafing attacks in the Buna-Kokoda area. The Japanese positions near Mubo village, inland from Salamaua, have also been bombed, while armed reconnaissance planes have machine-gunned enemy-occupied villages at the mouth and in the valley of the Mambare River, 50 miles north-west of Buna. The reports of these air activities indicates some spread of Japanese occupation of the northern New Guinea coastline.