ENEMY ADVANCE IN PAPUA

Southland Times, Issue 24825, 18 August 1942, Page 5

ENEMY ADVANCE IN PAPUA

Allied Line South Of Kokoda

(Rec. 11.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 17. The Japanese have again advanced in Papua. The Allied line now lies a little south of Kokoda, about 60 miles from Port Moresby. Today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters reports continued patrol skirmishes between small enemy forces and pur outguard elements. These clashes, states the communique, have taken place beyond the barrier line of the Owen Stanley Range. The Japanese force which landed at the Gona mission on July 22 quickly penetrated inland as far as Kokoda where they were held by our patrols for some time. Today’s communique is the first official intimation of their advance past the village. A headquarters spokesman said today that still only small forces were engaged and the situation was fluctuating. While skirmishing had shifted towards the range it had no especial importance. The fighting had not yet reached the rugged country, but was still taking place in the rolling country where transport advantages lay with the Japanese. ENEMY INTENTION NOT CLEAR The enemy forces have still to encounter the strong Allied defensive line, but some observers believe they will pursue their normal policy, pushing on until stopped. The intention of the fresh enemy thrust is not yet clear. Today’s communique also reports another attack by Allied medium bombers on an enemy-occupied town on the south-east coast of Timor. The objective is not indicated, but it is stated that all the bombs fell on the target area and a large fire was started. All our planes returned to their base. On Saturday Mape. an inland village on Timor was raided by our aircraft, about 12,0001 b of bombs being dropped.