Fighting Not Yet On Heavy Scale

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 210, 3 September 1942, Page 5

Fighting Not Yet On Heavy Scale

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.' (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Wednesday, 11.30 p.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 2. The increased enemy activity in thKokoda sector in Papua may mean that «.he Japanese having failed at Milne t’.a. intend to try toremg their way to Por. wuresby across tne difficult Owen Stanley mountains. Such e.iorts wou.d probab.., u„ supported by a simultaneous move on Fort ivioresoy trom another direct.on. Persistent in.iltration in the direction or toe mountains is occurring and tne enemy is now in the high country oeyoi.. rxoxoda. Fighting on an increased scaie is reported at about 20co leet above sea level. . To-day’s communique from General MacArtnur’s Headquarters says: “Our ground vorces are c.oseiy engaged m jungle fighting- against enemy tnrusis Oi increasing strength.” War corresponuents report that -lasnes occurred between the opposing patrois, but aitnough me tempo ot t..„ action is rising tne tight.ng up to date cannot be described as neavy. iik enemy has bareiy begun to tackle tne nardcst portion of his task in this sector, meantime the Japanese moves are hand.wdpped by adverse weatner and tne flOwU .11g of rivers at vital points. The main enemy tnrusts during the past few days are said to have been against some of the steep slopes leading to the pass through the ranges. Allied fighter aircrait have closely supported our ground derenoes. On Tuesday two strong strafing attacks were niauv. on advanced enemy positions and on tne.. mies of communication along which supplies are being moved from Buna to i\okooa. it is understood the attack., were made by Airacobras which stormeu a.ong the vai.eys and in the foothills c. the range. Japanese aircraft have no. yet attempted to support their troops in tms sector. “Scattered jungle fighting of the guerrilla type continues at Milne Bay,” says to-day's communique referring to t..c continued mopping up operations by the Australian troops. Increased numbers of dead Japanese are being vound by the advancing Australians. The casualties caused by the Allied fighter sweeps were evidently highWhatever the reason of the Japanese withdrawal from Milne Bay, it was certainly a hurried operation. Religious considerations as well as fear that the enemy intelligence might discover valuable information from notebooks and equipment ordinarily impel the Japanesj to gather up their dead before retirinc out on this occasion even some of the wounded were left behind.