VERY SERIOUS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1942, Page 4

VERY SERIOUS

FROM ALLIED STANDPOINT CHANGES IN NEW GUINEA PORT MORESBY DIRECTLY THREATENED. ENEMY’S AIR ADVANTAGES. (Special Australian Correspondent.. l (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The strategical situation north of Australia has seriously deteriorated. Though the word “occupation” has not been used in any official communique, it is now known that the Japanese are in possession of the Kokoda airfield, which is only sixty miles from Port Moresby. Other signs of enemy activity in and around New Guinea give the clearest indication that the Japanese are planning z major move seen. Port Moresby is now directly threatened. Enemy shipping is scattered over a ' wide area in the South-West Pacific and there has recently been a marked increase in the numbers of enemy vessels in New Guinea waters. Coupled with this there has been a heavy increase in the Japanese fighter strength. Some observers believe that the enemy land reinforcements in the Buna-Gona sector are considerably greater than was at first suggested. “This is no mere infiltration sideshow,” declares the “Daily Telegraph.” The facts now emerging from the fourteen day Papuan campaign make it definite that Gona is a key link in the Japanese offensive strategy in our near northern waters.” American reviewers here have been disquited. by the’ failure of the Allied air forces to smash the Japanese shipping, though several vessels have been hit. The Japanese sea moves have continued and big vessels have been attacked this week, but it is not known whether they carried troops or equipment. Invariably transports have’been escorted by warships and a sea and land battle for Port Moresby is widely anticipated. “This time,” says the “Sydney Sun, “there may not be a Coral Sea Battle, to halt the Japanese.” With the aerodromes in the GunaGona area and at Kokoda, the Japanese now have a great advantage over the Allied air forces based on Port Moresby. In their raids on Port Moresby the'Japanese can now cross New Guinea’s mountain backbone through a 7000-feet pass. Previously their bomb-laden planes had to climb 12,000 feet Our own bombers rading Lae, Salamaua and Rabaul must now cross high mountains to avoid interception by Japanese fighters based on Kokoda and Buna. ' Loose gossip, about possible plans for an Allied offensive in the SouthWest Pacific have been blamed in some quarters as being responsible for the latest speedy Japanese thrust. Now. before Lae and Salamaua could be cleared of the enemy, our forces would have the very difficult task of reocuppying Buna and Kokoda. The word “invasion” is again widely used in Australian newspapers. However, many experts believe the severing of the American-Australian supply line remains the primary Japanese objective. The landing at Gona is seen as the first move of a drive by land, sea and air against Port Moresby and it is likely to be followed by further thrusts_ south, ultimately against New Caledonia. The South-West Pacific is moving very much into the war picture and this time it may well be there to stay.