DECISIVE STAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1942, Page 3

DECISIVE STAGE

BEING APPROACHED IN NEW GUINEA ALLIED TROOPS ATTACKING AND ADVANCING. WITH STRONG AIR SUPPORT. LONDON, November 11. The campaign in New Guinea is now approaching a decisive stage. The Japanese invaders, resisting stubbornly about 50 miles south of their base at Buna, are being driven back steadily by combined Australian and American forces. The Allied troops have strong air support. JAPANESE WAYS BURIAL & OTHER CUSTOMS. INSTANCES OF MURDEROUS TREACHERY. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 11. Hundreds of Japanese graves were found by the advancing Australians along the trail from Kokoda. A forward hospital apparently had been established in the area. A stake about four feet high, with the soldier's age in Japanese characters, marks each grave. Nail clippings and strands of hair from dead soldiers evidently are sent home to their relatives. These have been found wrapped in cellophane, together with burial forms giving the soldier’s name, number and unit, where and how he was killed and by whom buried. Australian troops who have fought their way across the Owen Stanley Ranges are convinced that more than half the enemy soldiers could cither speak English or had been taught to speak set phrases. At every opportunity the Japanese attempted to outwit the Australians by calling commands to them in close fighting. When a husky Australian caught a surprised Japanese by the scruff of the neck at Alola, his captive cried: “Let me go, let me go.” The Japanese sometimes laid badly wounded soldiers in a position covered by snipers, shooting any Australian who went to the assistance of the wounded men. One wounded soldier called for help and then shot a medical orderly who went to his assistance. At Kokoda four New Guinea natives have been presented with medals for loyal service to the Australians fighting in the ranges. The medals, which the boys wear on a chain around their necks, carry the Australian coat of arms on one side and on the other the inscription: “For loyal service.” Some days ago nine natives attached to the United States headquarters were presented with specially designed ramis (one-piece wrap-on garments), made of white material, with red bands at top and bottom and marked with a large blue star.