STILL RESISTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 November 1942, Page 3

STILL RESISTING

JAPANESE REARGUARD IN NEW GUINEA ALLIED THREAT TO BUNA. AND TO OTHER ENEMY BASES. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY'. November 9. The Japanese rearguard in l/apua is still resisting in Hie (Jivi area, about 48 miles front Buna, and the encirclement movements by the Allied troops continue to make progress. Allied aircraft supporting the operations have made further bombing and strafing attacks against the enemy positions and supply line.

No contact with the enemy has yet been reported by the American force, which is now stated to have penetrated deep into the eastern flank of the Buna sector, but the war correspondents appear to be unanimously of the opinion that the Japanese must eventually be forced to release their hold on this base.

To get to their positions now menacing Buna the American forces had to perform many line feats of military engineering. Swamps were filled in, rivers bridged, and tracks hacked through the jungle to permit the passage of their four-wheel-drive trucks. No official indication has been given of the size of the American force, but it is evidently a powerful one. The careful planning and skilful execution of the whole plan of campaign against the Japanese at Buna is generally praised, and the move is believed to be the first step in General MacArthur’s broader New Guinea offensive. The fate of the move must inevitably be closely linked with the developments in the Solomons. With Buna captured, an offensive against the enemy’s bases at Lae and Salamaua would follow logically. The "Sydney Morning Herald,” commenting in an editorial on these substantial strategic gains and the further opportunities for the initiative which they present, says that the possession of the entire north Papuan coastline will offer a “clear invitation to the Allies to continue their drive to Rabaul in collaboration with operations by the forces under Admiral Halsey’s command.” Today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters reports attacks by our medium bombers along the coast in the Salamaua area. Since the main communications between Salamaua and Buna are by sea, further Allied air attacks to hamper the passage of enemy supplies may be expected. These supplies are mainly carried by barges. 'Allied aircraft have been active m the New Britain area. At Gasmata a wireless station was wrecked and bombs were dropped among grounded aircraft. Enemy installations on Arawe-Maklo Island were also raided. North of Australia. Japanese shipping at Koepang, in Timor, was bombed.