JAPANESE LOSSES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 2 September 1942, Page 2

JAPANESE LOSSES

EXPECTED TO BE SUBSTANTIAL MILNE BAY FIGHTING (Rec. 1.40 p.m.) Sydney, This Day No estimate of Japanese casualties at Milne Bay is yet possible, but there is growing evidence that substantial losses were inflicted on the enemy. Australian militiamen stationed at the beach defence ambushed one newly landed detachment and killed more than 200. Hundreds of thousand of rounds of ammunition were expended by Australian fighter pilots attacking enemy personnel, and they are known to have caused heavy casualties. One airman has told how he killed a group of 50 Japanese who were having a meal in a jungle clearing. The number of bodies being found by Australian troops engaged in moppingup operations testify to the hurried manner of the Japanese evacuation. Among the equipment left behind by the enemy were flame-throwers which the enemy have introduced for the first time in the Pacific war. There is no evidence that flame-throwers were used ! at Milne Bay. but it is thought they j may have been carried as an experiI merit in terrorising tactics. Observers here are increasingly mystified by the enemy withdrawal. ‘There is no blinking the fact that the Japanese evacuation of Milne Bay came as a complete surprise,” the Sydney Morning Herald” war correspondent states. “It is difficult to understand why, holding temporary control of the sea lanes leading to Milne Bay. i the Japanese did not attempt to rein- ' force rather than take off their troops.” THREAT TO MORESBY REMAINS The Sydney ‘‘Morning Herald” military correspondent warns that the i Japanese threat to Port Moresby rei mains and that a revival of aggressive ! enemy action in the Lae, Salamaua and j Kokoda sectors must be correlated with Japanese plans to converge on Port Moresby from other directions. Sea control is the key to the situation, he says. “The position at sea must be resolved decisively in our favour before there can be any strategical safetly in ; the South-West Pacific.” ALLIED POSITION STRENGTHENED “The successes in New Guinea and i the Solomons have strengthened the Allied position. The Japanese would ' hardly think seriously of invading Ini dia while heavily engaged in the South Pacific,” says General Stilwell, interviewed at New Delhi. “The situation in India has considerably improved. I have always believed this theatre the most important. It is still the best way to get at Japan. No doubt the first step must be the reoccupation of Burma, after which China will again become an asset.” General Stilwell added that he believed the Japanese were preparing to attack Siberia. The attitude of the Japanese forces oppbsing American marines in the Solomons was illustrated by a story I by Robert Miller. Most of the prisoners j indicated that they would prefer death. I The sole Japanese survivor of one at- ! tack said: “I personally am not ashamed of my actions, but according to the ; Japanese code I am listed as dead and j my return would disgrace the family, j If I had had a gun I never would have ! been taken alive.” —P.A. special Ausj tralian correspondent.