WITHDRAWAL BY JAPANESE

Southland Times, Issue 24878, 19 October 1942, Page 5

WITHDRAWAL BY JAPANESE

Templeton’s Crossing Area (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 18. The Australian troops in New Guinea’s Owen Stanley Range have driven the Japanese from their P°sj" tions near Templeton’s Crossing on the northern side of the Gap. This was revealed in the latest communique from General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters. The first Japanese withdrawal was on Friday. No official Allied claims were made. The latest information makes it clear, however, that this strategic area of mountain heights is now back in Allied hands. No indication has been given of whether the enemy’s withdrawal from Templeton’s Crossing means that they have entirely vacated the ranges. However, it was widely believed among war commentators that once the Japanese were forced from their positions in the heights they would withdraw at least to the flat country around Kokoda, 12 miles by trail and 5000 feet below Templeton’s Crossing. For some days before this further enemy retreat Australian troops had been in steady contact with the Japanese and fierce fighting had occurred. Both sides employed mortars, with the Australians making strong frontal and flanking attacks. The enemy defences were in considerable depth in rough, rocky country covered with jungle much lighter than on the lower slopes of the mountains. The advancing Australians are reported to have found hand-grenades the most effective

weapon against the Japanese hidden in their artfully concealed fox-holes. A high tribute is paid to the doctors and medical orderlies accomptmying the Australian advance. Frequently the doctors have worked ankle-deep in mud operating on wounded men in grass huts lighted only by dimmed kerosene lamps. Enormous problems of supply have also been overcome to reach the area, which is six days’ normal trail distance from the Port Moresby roadhead. DIFFICULT CAMPAIGN Commenting on this important success in the New Guinea campaign, the war correspondent of The Sun, Sydney, writes: “The early quick advance, reports of small casualties and the apparent absence of the Japanese in strength may have led to the belief that this has been an easy campaign. But every man who has trodden the track through the jungle and slept tired in wet clothes, lived for weeks on iron rations and suffered the incredible discomforts has suffered hardships as great as those faced by any early explorers. To these have been added Japanese tree-top snipers, the active skirmishes and aggressive flank patrols of the communiques and direct attacks against mortar and machinegun positions.” Allied aircraft have continued their strafing attacks in the Buna-Kokoda area. Japanese positions near Mubo village, inland from Salamaua, have also been bombed, while armed reconnaissances planes machine-gunned enemy-occupied villages at the mouth and in the valley of the Mambare River, 50 miles north-west of Buna. The reports of these air activities indicate some spread of the Japanese occupation of the northern New Guinea coastline. ALLIED AIR SUPPORT Raids On Japanese Bases (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.PA..) (Rec. 9.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 18. Allied aircraft of General Douglas MacArthur’s South-west Pacific Command have been giving strong support to Vice-Admiral Robert L. Ghormley’s forces in the Solomons. Fifteen tons of bombs were dropped in a Flying Fortress raid on the main Japanese southward base at Rabaul shortly before dawn on Saturday. Widespread damage is believed to have been caused, but details of this and other raids are lacking. The aerodromes at Buka and Buin in the Northern Solomons, have been heavily attacked at night by large formations of bombers. At Buka many fires were started and at Buin hits were scored on runways among dispersed aircraft. The main purpose of these raids undoubtedly has been to neutralize Japanese air strength in the Solomons battle, but attacks against enemy Shipping have also been made. At Buin and Shortland Island Allied offensive reconnaissance units bombed two large Japanese transports. The results could not be observed. JAPANESE PROPAGANDA Natives Not Impressed (Rec. 7 p.m.) CANBERRA, October 18. It would be utter madness to regard the Pacific war as a sideshow. To defeat Germany unless we also defeated Japan would leave us in an impossible position. This was stated by Mr Keith Officer, former Charge d’Affaires at the Australian Legation in Tokyo, who returned to Canberra after the exchange with Japanese diplomats. Mr Officer said an encouraging impression gained was that the native population of the Japanese-occupied countries was not greatly impressed with the Japanese propaganda that they were coming as deliverers. He thought, however, it was essential that the United Nations should make clear their post-war intentions to the peoples of South-east Asia. Otherwise Japanese propaganda in these countries might be successful in certain quarters. The Japanese treated the staff of the Australian Legation strictly correctly. The treatment of non-officials varied.