MOVE ON BUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 November 1942, Page 3

MOVE ON BUNA

MACARTHUR IN PAPUA PERSONALLY DIRECTING OPERATIONS. JAPANESE MAY BE TRAPPED. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 17. General MacArthur, Comma nder-in-Chief in the SouthWest Pacific area, is personally directing the Papuan campaign in the field as the Allied troops press on toward Buna. With him are his land and air force commanders, General Blarney and Major-General Kenney. Australian patrols are today reported 34 miles from Buna to Awala, nearly seven miles beyond Wairopi. The Japanese are steadily retreating before our advance. The American flanking force is also closing in on the enemy bridgehead. ' 1 In co-ordination with the Australian frontal drive, Allied air forces are giving the enemy a terrific pounding. Beaufighters, Havocs and North American bombers are operating a “shuttle service” against the enemy positions. Bombing of targets on the Kumusi River, north of Wairopi, suggests that many Japanese are attempting to escape down the river in native canoes. Some commentators believe that the enemy may abandon Buna and attempt to force a wav through more than 120 miles of jungle country to his nearest north New Guinea base, Salamaua. This would appear likely to be a suicidal venture. With the heavy Japanese naval defeat in the Solomons having further diminished the enemy’s chances of being evacuated by sea, Lieut-General Horii’s forces seem likely to be trapped in the Buna area. But despite their great losses in men and equipment, they must still retain the power to offer vicious resistance when and if they choose to turn and fight.