ADVANCE IN NEW GUINEA

Southland Times, Issue 24890, 2 November 1942, Page 5

ADVANCE IN NEW GUINEA

Australians Capture Strong-Point

(Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 9.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 1. The Australian troops who captured Alola village on Friday are now pushing along the last northern spur of the Owen Stanley Range. This is an important strategical gain .as the Japanese have thus been driven from the narrowest and most easily defended section of the Eora Valley area. The next objective of our forces is Isurava village, on the same ridge as Alola and about two hours march away. The advancing troops have still to contend with heavy forest and precipitous terrain, but northward beyond Isurava the going favours faster action. The spur, of which the northern extremity is now being defended by the Japanese, has been the main strong-point in the enemy defensive system in the heights of the range. In this area the Australian advance has ' been slowed down to about seven miles in 14 days.

Fierce fighting occurred on Wednesday, but slackened off on Thursday and the occupation of Alola village was finally accomplished with little opposition. The village, which is slightly off the main track, comprises seven grass huts, mostly burned out by bombings. It is seven and a-half air miles from Kokoda, where the Japanese hold the only airfield in Central Papua. Past Isurava the track drops steeply through Deniki to Kokoda, which is 5000 feet below Isurava and only 1200 feet above sea level. In air attacks supporting the Australian troops our planes on Saturday strafed targets of opportunity near Isurava. The enemey’s North Papuan bases at Lae, Salamaua and Buna have also been attacked by our medium bombers. U.S. CARRIER LOST Damaged In Air Attack (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 31. A Navy Department communique St “ln tire South Pacific the United States aircraft-carrier which was announced in a recent communique to be severely damaged subsequently sank. It was twice attacked by bombers and torpedo planes on Monday near Santa Cruz Island. The first attack, which occurred during the morning, caused heavy damage and the aircraft-carrier was taken in tow in an attempt to salvage her. In tire afternoon a second attack caused further damage below the waterline and she began to list. The personnel were removed at this time and the aircraft-carrier later sank. Reports indicate few casualties. This aircraft-carrier and the destroyer Porter were the only United States vessels lost in the above engagement. The New York Times Washington correspondent states that although the carrier has not been named, it is believed to be the Hornet, the Saratoga, the Ranger or the Enterprise. The reason for withholding the name is consideration for the next-of-kin, who have not yet been notified.

CLAIMS BY JAPANESE

American Losses In Pacific (Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW KORK, Oct. 31. The Domei News Agency (Tokyo) asserts that 22,000 American seamen are dead and missing as a result of the Pacific naval battles between August 7 and October 26, in which 65 American vessels, including nearly all the carriers, were lost, leaving the American Navy in an “extremely critical position for the next two years.”