RAID ON SALAMAUA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1942, Page 3

RAID ON SALAMAUA

VALUABLE INFORMATION OBTAINED NEWS OF EVENT CHEERED BY GARRISONS. EARNEST OF MORE TO FOLLOW. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, July 1. The Allied force which raided Salamaua brought back information which will be of the utmost value to our intelligence section, says the Australian Broadcasting Commission's war correspondent. The raid was made by tough and determined fighters, trained to the minute in jungle warfare, and anxious to avenge’ their fallen comrades in Malaya, Rabaul, and Java. News of the raid spread quickly among the troops at advanced positions in the north-east area and Port Moresby, and the announcement was cheered by the garrisons. Though there is a disposition not to associate the word “commando” with the raid, this is the closest approach to commando methods yet employed in the south-west Pacific theatre of war. The official view is that the incident should be put in perspective and regarded as no more than a nuisance raid. Nevertheless, its value should not be under-estimated. It is the first fruit of patient training in the ways of warfare of which more will be seen in the south-west Pacific before the conflict ends. At Lae and Salamaua, the enemy henceforth will be obliged to remain constantly on the alert.