TROPICAL RAINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1942, Page 3

TROPICAL RAINS

HAMPERING OPERATIONS • IN NEW GUINEA < STRATEGIC OUTLOOK JAPAN BEING BLED WHITE. IN AIRCRAFT AND SHIPPING. . (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, December 14. While much heavy fighting’ is certain before the Buna beach bead is cleared of the enemy, war commentators are busy examining th.e strategical implications of the enemy annihilation at Gona. The London “Times” declares: "The grim conquest had the quality of incredibility. It proves, however, that Japanese holdings can be made to yield to properly planned and boldly directed counter-offensives. Though Papua and Guadalcanal are not major points round the barrier of Japanese conquests, nevertheless they are the first foreshadowing of Japan’s inevitable downfall.” The New York “Herald-Tribune” says: “The Allies are now entitled to look ahead for the next steps in the South-West Pacific war. It should be possible to exert pressure from Buna against Lae and Salamaua, Avhose capture would directly menace the rear of the Avhole Japanese operations in the Solomons.” Australian commentators remain more concerned with the hard fighting immediately ahead and with the revelations of Japanese strengths and weaknesses. Both in the Solomons and Papua, attrition warfare has proved “technically uneconomic” for the enemy, declares the Sydney "Herald’s” military correspondent. Air activity in the Solomons and New Guinea indicates clearly that the Japanese lack available plane strength to pursue aggressive roles in both theatres. In planes as well as shipping. Japan is being ."bled white.” MOUNTING ENEMY LOSSES. “Aerial aspects of the Pacific war are completely changed,” says the “Herald” writer. “It is difficult to see how Japanese resources can keep pace with the mounting losses of the past four months, especially since the vast flow of American production is steadily increasing Allied striking power.” Torrential tropical rains, the true New Guinea wet season, are bogging down Allied ground operations against the last three salients of Japanese resistance at Buna. The remaining strongpoints are at Buna village, Buna mission and Sanananda Point. Today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters states that on Sunday “continuous artillery and mortar fire was maintained on enemy positions while the air force made bombing and strafing attacks throughout the day.’’ These attacks are no doubt designed to “soften” Japanese posts for full-scale infantry assaults when weather conditions allow. Allied patrols are reported to be still engaged in mopping up enemy stragglers east of Gona. The few Japanese who escaped from Gona tried to make their way, to the mouths of muddy creeks, evidently with the hope of joining the Buna garrison. One party wiped out included a lieutenant-colonel and two other officers. The largest number of prisoners reported captured is 17. Communiques reporting the fighting at Gona have made no mention of enemy wounded. It will be recalled that at Milne Bay Japanese officers are reported to have shot their wounded rather than allow them to fall into Allied hands. Two more Zeros were shot down over Buna on Sunday when they attempted to intercept an Allied reconnaissance unit. An enemy aerodrome and installations on the isthmus at Salamaua have been again attacked by our medium bombers. GALLANT DEEDS OF GERMAN-AMERICAN SERGEANT. JUNGE FIGHTING IN BUNA AREAS. SYDNEY, December 14. The heroism of a German-born American sergeant who established a salient between Buna mission and Buna village for a small party who held the area for more than a week has now been revealed. Sergeant Herman Bottcher. who was born at andsberg, near Berlin, 30 years ago, led his men through coconut groves and swamps to a beach. In desperate fighting, he was wounded several times. The Japanese made three attempts to smash the American party, but each time they were repulsed with heavy losses. Bottcher made a number of solo expeditions, silencing Japanese machineguns and destroying defensive works. He has been recommended for a decoration and a commission. From 1927 to 1929, Bottcher lived in Australia. Then he went to the United States and, at the outbreak of the Spanish war, joined the International Brigade as a private. He rose to the rank of captain. Enlistment in life International Brigade entailed the loss of his American citizenship rights, but Bottcher was able to return to San Francisco after the war. He still speaks with a decided German accent