THRUST TOWARD PORT MORESBY

Southland Times, Issue 24824, 17 August 1942, Page 5

THRUST TOWARD PORT MORESBY

Strong Japanese

Attacks

(Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.PA.)

(Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 17. The Japanese, strongly reinforced and equipped with mortars and automatic weapons, have resumed their Papuan land thrust towards Port Moresby. They are making strong attacks on the Australian advanced positions at Kokoda, 60 miles from Port Moresby. The enemy is clearly endeavouring to recover the initiative he lost following successful harassing actions by Australians a week ago. One report says that the Japanese suffered more than 150 casualties in a series of swift thrusts by our troops. “The number of troops that the Japanese are now using about Kokoda indicates that the Buna landing was no mere opportunist excursion,” writes a war correspondent from an operational base. “The present skirmishing is likely to prove the forerunner of larger scale actions for the possession of the passes through the Owen Stanley Range. The recent fighting has been in broken country near Kokoda and the enemy has still to face the great natural obstacle barring his way to Port Moresby. Here the ground favours the defenders.

Following the enemy landings at Buna an' Allied headquarters spokesman stated that the defence of Port Moresby from land attack would be made along the line of the Owen Stanley Range. That line is just now being reached.