JAPANESE CHECKED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 December 1942, Page 3

JAPANESE CHECKED

AT SEVERAL POINTS IN NEW GUINEA AMERICAN AIR OPERATIONS ATTACKS ON ENEMY SHIPS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, December 18. Japanese counter-attacks on the Buna mission were repulsed with losses. Twenty dead were left in front of the Allied lines and one prisoner was taken. Our artillery fire on Thursday destroyed a vital bridge in ths area. General MacArthur's latest communique reports action over a wide area. American troops made further gains near Buna mission, while an Australian patrol smashed enemy efforts to infiltrate into our positions west of Gona, killing 15 Japanese. It is possible that some of the enemy troops in this action were from landing parties which came ashore at Kumusi on Sunday night. Beaufighters and Havocs made heavy strafing attacks on the Japanese on the Kumusi River delta. Reconnaissance reports indicate that practically all stores landed in the area have been destroyed. On two small islands northwest of Buna Beaufighters strafed Japanese who had apparently taken refuge there after being driven out of other sectors. Marauders dropped three 1001 b. bombs in an enemy beachhead fortress area.

Allied patrols near Salamaua are reported to have pushed back Japanese outposts. The object of the activities was to prevent the Japanese seizing friendly natives for service as carriers. A Liberator on Thursday attacked a Japanese cargo vessel off New Hanover Island, at the north-west tip of New Ireland, while another Liberator attacked an enemy destroyer off Gasmata, scoring near misses. Australian Hudsons attacked the enemy-occupied village of Mindelo, Timor.