SOME UNEASINESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 August 1942, Page 3

SOME UNEASINESS

FELT IN AUSTRALIA OVER ENEMY MOVEMENTS SOUTH. THREATS TO PORT MORESBY & NEW CALEDONIA. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August 3. In Gio .1.9 raids made on Australian territory during the past week the Japanese have employed more than 100 planes. The mainland was raided 14 times in attacks costing the enemy 16 planes, with two more probably destroyed. Observers are disquieted by this evidence of the enemy’s air power in the north, coupled with their recent land successes. The Japanese are now closer than they have ever been to their prime strategic south-west Pacific objective— New Caledonia. Behind the feverish construction of new airfields on Guadalcanal - , in the Solomon Islands, many commentators see a plan to provide land bases for the Japanese aircraft to be employed in conjunction with some new sea venture. This deficiency proved a decisive factor in the Battle of the Coral Sea, s when the enemy fleet moving on Port Moresby lacked landbased air support. The acceptance in Washington of the recent Japanese operations as feints to conceal the enemy’s intentions against Siberia is not favourably regarded. “It is here ,and not in Washington, that the consequences of an erroneous judgment would be felt,” says the “Sydney morning Herald,” which affirms that a major attack on Port Moresby is intended.

Discussing the vital importance of Port Moresby to Australia’s defensive system, the “Herald” says: “The immediate task of the Allied forces must be io keep Port Moresby secure. Not only is it a shield for our northern mainland towns; it is also the advanced point from which the conquest of occupied Papua and New Guinea must be undertaken.”

The practicability of an enemy land attack from Buna across the Owen Stanley Range against Port Moresby is discounted by the former New Zealand journalist, Mr Osmar White, writing in the “Daily Telegraph.” Outlining the difficult nature of the country from Kokoda to Port Moresby, he says: “I do not believe that with our present strength and preparedness we can so grossly mismanage the defence of Papua as to allow the Japanese to cross the Owen . Stanley Range to Port Moresby.” Failure by the public to realise the grave implications of the Japanese activities in the Solomons and Papua is also criticised by knowledgeable observers. Discussing the reasons for this complacency, the “Herald” says: “Australians might be less impatient of the new reverses and better able to judge the realities of the Pacific war situation if they were taken more fully into the confidence of the Government and the Allied command. The official communiques are masterpieces of brevity, if that be the appropriate word.” , DRIVEN BACK FROM ADVANCED POSITIONS. JAPANESE IN KOKODA AREA. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August 3. Allied patrols, after fierce engagements, have driven the Japanese land forces from some of their advanced positions in the Kokoda area in Papua. Contact was made in heavy jungle country, and the forward enemy troops were compelled to withdraw. Our air force, supported the operations of our land troops, bombing and strafing enemy positions and supply dumps. Light machine-guns and mortars are believed to have been used by the enemy in the jungle fighting for the possession of Kokoda village and airfield. It is stated that every third Japanese soldier carries a mortar and that mortar barrages have been laid down during the enemy advances. A general headquarters spokesman said today that reconnaissance aircraft have reported no reinforcement of the enemy forces. About 2500 men were originally landed at Gona. He pointed out that it was not impossible for the Japanese to have brought reinforcements overland from Lae and Salamaua, though the nature of the country would make this difficult. Allied medium and heavy bombers have raided the enemy positions in the Buna-Gona landing zone. There is evidence that the Japanese now have air support in the area. Five Zeros and one twin-engined plane were shot down, and two of our fighters and one bomber are missing . Beating off an interception attempt by two enemy float-planes, our bombers made their third attack on the Japanese cruiser in the Banda Sea. The fact that the cruiser has been in the same area since the original attack two days earlier is believed to indicate that she has been severely damaged. The results, of the latest attack were not observed. Today’s Allied headquarters communique also reveals a bombing raid on an enemy aerodrome at Lae. An Allied reconnaissance unit over Salamaua shot down an intercepting enemy fighter. AGGRESSIVE ACTION MUST BE UNDERTAKEN IN PACIFIC. MR FRASER’S DECLARATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The opinion that a most successful offensive could, and would, be undertaken in the Pacific was expressed yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, who made it clear that this was his personal view. He added that public opinion in Australia, as in New Zealand, was certainly not confined to the defensive attitude, but was definitely aggressive. “It is perfectly clear to me that the Australian Government emphatically stands for an offensive in the Pacific, believing that in many respects it | holds out hope of maximum success,” said the Prime Minister.