MISSION SALIENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1942, Page 3

MISSION SALIENT

NO SIGN OF BATTLE SLACKENING HEAVY JAPANESE CASUALTIES. CONSIDERABLE PATROL ACTIVITY IBv Teleeranh—Press Association— Copyright) ' y S P SYDNEY, December 20. On the Buna mission salient the battle gives no sign of slackening. About 40 Japanese dead were found when our troops took possession of a savagely contested coconut grove south of the Buna Government station. Though the enemy grip on this sector has been seriously weakened by the American occupation of Buna village 11 days ago, strong Japanese defence must be reduced before it is in our hands. The defences include concrete, steel-topped' pillboxes. Allied aircraft have been particularly active over the Buna area, 500 fragmentation bombs having been dropped in Japanese defences in the past two days. West of Gona village, which was captured by Australian forces on December 10, patrol activities continue. Our troops are reported to be engaged in clearing out the remnants of the Japanese force which landed at Kumusi River estuary a week ago. Almost 200 dead Japanese found here have been buried by our troops. Many more bodies are reported to lie in the area. The Japanees air force has been more active in night attacks on the Allied rear areas. Port Moresby has nowhad its ninety-fifth raid, Kawanisi fly-ing-boats dropping their bombs harmlessly. The enemy’s main New Guinea air base at Lae has again been raided by our medium and heavy' bombers. The damage is not reported. Further details have been released of Australian ground patrol activities in this area . The Japanese have sent out a number of punitive expeditions ' against villages of natives who refused to enlist as carriers. Australian patrols have retaliated by making surprise raids on enemy outposts, killing garrisons and enabling the natives to escape. The main Japanese inland base in the Lae-Salamaua area is at Mubo, where German Lutheran missionaries assisted the enemy. But Japanese efforts to penetrate to other villages to enrol native labour by “blackbirding” have been largely foiled by the good work of Australian patrols.