Weird Battle of Millie Bay

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 209, 2 September 1942, Page 5

Weird Battle of Millie Bay

Received Tuesday, 9.30 p.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 1. The first eye-witness account of the Allied victory at Mune bay came from the only war correspondent on the spot, Mr. Waiter Lucas, ot the Lonuon Dauy express. Mr. Lucas was in the Milne Bay area when the enemy attack began and he stayed there until Sunday morning when he returned to the Australian base.

“The first phase of the battle," he reports, “consisted of an attack by a swarm of Zero fighters which pounced down from low clouds on patrolling Kittyhawks. This sally cost the Japanese five planes. “The same evening the Japanese landed on the north-east coast and Mr. Lucas attached himself to a tough Australian patrol. He said: “The land units moved in complete silence with the troops manoeuvring stealthily for position in the dense Jungle a few miles from the landing point. It was a bizarre battle. I reached Australia on Monday without having seen a single Japanese. “I heard much bombing and saw much air activity, but apart from artillery explosions and the sounds of machine-gun fire I saw no signs of land fighting." Mr. Lucas says the Japanese evidently did not expect to meet with reslstence. The first landing party comprising about 500 troops brought ashore medium tanks and three-inch mortars. They started down a track towards Gitigili, the soldiers chattering and laughing. “They received a shock when about 400 yards down the track an Australian patrol opened fire. The tanks Immediately switched on searchlights while the troops disappeared into the Jungle on each side of the track. The party had native guides. “On the second day our air force was very active. Our bombers destroyed nine landing barges and set fire *to supply dumps while our fighters strafed the treetops for snipers and dropped antipersonnel bombs. Three enemy tanks were destroyed in desultory Jungle clashes and the enemy were compelled to retire. “The next night Japanese warships revisited the bay. They ineffectually shelled the Jungle for four hours and departed after landing further men and supplies. Meanwhile the Japanese troops in the Jungle came to life in patrol clashes and advanced Australian units often found themselves cut off. “The Japanese used the same old tricks in the Jungle blackness in order to advance. Commands were shouted in perfect English and one Australian unit almost fell into a serious ambush. It was a war against an almost invisible army. Short sharp bursts of machine-gun fire were the only sounds breaking long periods of silence and giving the whole battle a macabre quality. "One Japanese cruiser and eight destroyers were seen approaching through the torrential rain on Saturday afternoon. During Saturday night no sound was heard except an occasional burst of gunfire blanketed and ghostly through the mists. Not a single light shone In our lines and smoking was forbidden. It was certain death to wander in the darkness. Dawn revealed that the bay was cleared of ships while an early morning reconnaissance showed no enemy anywhere.” According to Mr. Lucas the Australian casualties are not likely to be high. The enemy appeared to take most of their dead and wounded with them. Probably the enemy cruiser and destroyers arrived to extricate the Japanese land forces from a position they regarded as untenable.