JAPANESE FORCED TO FALL BACK

Southland Times, Issue 24882, 23 October 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE FORCED TO FALL BACK

HEAVIER FIGHTING IN OWEN STANLEYS

(Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) '(Rec. 10.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 22. Both sides are employing larger forces in the Owen Stanley Range struggle. Heavier fighting has developed and the Japanese have been forced from a defensive position near Eora creek village. War correspondents believe that the enemy is now being slowly driven from the last geographical feature lending itself to a stand in the high ground of the mountains. Once their present posts are vacated the Japanese will find themselves on the steep slope to Kokoda, where attempts to halt an advancing force would be extremely difficult. Flanking attacks by strong Allied forces were responsible for the latest Japanese reverse. It has been stated officially that the Allied drive continues to be successful and that the enemy defences in depth are being steadily overcome. The Japanese are now “on the edge of the range” beyond Eora Creek. The descent is rapid and in one section of the trail is 2400 feet in little more than two miles. Belated news was given today of an Allied attack on Japanese shipping at Rabaul last Sunday. The raid was made by a small force of Flying Fortresses at the same time as four co-ordinated attacks were being made on the enemy fleet off Bougainville Island and the aerodrome at Buin. (These attacks were reported in last Monday s communique from General Douglas MacArthur s headquarters. Three cruisers are believed to have been among the enemy ships damaged). Poor visibility hampered the observation of the results of the Rabaul raid. However, the airmen were able to report that fires and heavy explosions occurred among the shipping, while fires were also started around the airfield. Raids on Timor and New Britain are also reported in today’s communique. North American B2s’s sank a launch with machine-gun fire near Gasmata, on the south coast of New Britain, and strafed the shores of Luschan Harbour, 17 miles west of Gasmata. The Timor raid was carried out by Hudson bombers on reconnaissance and the target was the village of Maobisse. There are large enemy barracks at Maobisse, where Portuguese troops were formerly stationed. Reports of the raid say serious damage was done.