NEW GUINEA BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1942, Page 3

NEW GUINEA BATTLE

REINFORCEMENTS LANDED BY JAPANESE AT COST OF DESTROYER & OTHER CRAFT. SUNK BY ALLIED BOMBERS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY .November 23. Japanese reinforcements have apparently landed in the BunaGona area in a desperate attempt to relieve General Horrii’s besieged troops. Bad weather and darkness covered the landings, preventing attacks by the Allied air forces, but during daylight yesterday a Japanese destroyer and two landing craft were sunk by our bombers. The size of the Japanese reinforcements has not been indicated, but it is believed they are small. They may have been landed from the destroyer which was later sunk. A force of four Japanese destroyers which was sighted earlier has withdrawn to the north. This convoy could have transported not more than 2000 troops, and that number would be substantially reduced if equipment was also carried. “The risks of landing so small a force are out of proportion to its potential value and out of line, too, with the well-established Japanese policy of never sending a boy to do a man’s job,” comments the “Sydney Morning Herald” war correspondent. In the air as well as on the ground the Allies continue to hold the advantage in bitter fighting. A day of ceaseless Allied bombing, strafing and dogfights cost the Japanese 19 aircraft. Only .one Allied plane was lost. An enemy formation of 12 divebombers, escorted by 20 Zeros, attempted to attack the Allied troops, but it was broken up by our fighters and forced to abandon its mission.

Flying conditions yesterday were considerably improved. Fortresses, North Aberican bombers, Havocs, Beaufighters, and Airacobras took part in the attacks against the enemy. Japanese planes made one sortie, and several were shot down, while others which returned to the Lae aerodrome were destroyed on the ground when Beaufighters made strafing attacks. The Japanese hemmed in on the narrow Buna-Gona beachhead were attacked from the air without cessation, being forced to endure the heaviest strafing in the Papuan campaign. The Australian and American troops continue to drive against the enemy, and today's communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters states that they are ‘steadily closing in on all sides of the enemy’s dwindling position.”

American troops captured a new airstrip south of Buna, where the fighting is fiercest, and they are launching heavy assaults on the main airfield. The Allies have now brought up 25pounder artillery, which will reply to the Japanese field-guns. It will be recalled that 25-pounders played an important part in the initial stages of the Australian drive across the Owen Stanleys. . , j , Australian units are believed to have forced their way to a position which threatens the fall of Gona. Intensified Japanese air efforts, perhaps supported by further landing attempts, are expected, but war. correspondents state that the Allied air strength is now at its highest, and given favourable operational conditions the Allied air forces should be capable of making heightened . Japanese efforts exorbitantly expensive. The fact that our troops are now using 25pounders indicates that the supply difficulties have largely been overcome.