FURTHER ADVANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1942, Page 3

FURTHER ADVANCE

MADE BV AUSTRALIANS IN NEW GUINEA DOWN NORTHERN SLOPES OF MOUNTAINS. JAPANESE RESISTANCE STIFFENED. LONDON, October 21. In New Guinea the Australians have advanced three more miles down the slopes of the Given Stanley Mountains and are now near enough to Kokoda seriously io threaten this important base. The Japanese are rushing up reinforcements and have adopted a defence in depth policy.

OUTFLANKING ATTACKS

DESPERATE ENEMY EFFORTS FAIL.

(Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 21. in spite of their continued tenacious resistance, the Japanese in the heights of the Owen Stanley Ranges are gradually being driven back. They are now occupying new positions about three miles north of Templeton’s Crossing, to which they were forced to withdraw by successful Australian outflanking and encircling attacks. In a desperate effort to retain their foothold on this last strip of high ground in the gap area, the Japanese have brought up light artillery as well as mortars. The latest Allied gain was made after an advanced unit had succeeded, in occupying a position in the rear of the Japanese forward troops. When their costly counter-attacks failed to eliminate the threat of Allied encirclement, the Japanese withdrew. Failure to hold their present positions may mean that the enemy will be forced to withdraw from an altitude of 6500 feet to Kokoda, only 1500 feet above sea level.