RABAUL NEXT?

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1943, Page 3

RABAUL NEXT?

PREDICTIONS BY UNITED STATES LYING JAPANESE REPORT ON PAPUA. REPLIED TO BY GENERAL MACARTHUR. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 11. Japan’s key base of Rabaul is being widely nominated from the United States as a likely target for an early Allied offensive in the South Pacific. However, while it may be a logical choice, little satisfactory evidence yet exists that an. attack against this nxissively protected enemy strongpoint is imminent.

Protective enemy air bases along the north New Guinea coast, as well as in the northern Solomons and New Britain must be neutralised before such a move becomes militarily practicable. Since Rabaul is in the South-west Pacific command area, it is generally accepted that direct attack against this base would be made by General MacArthur’s and Admiral Halsey’s forces working in direct co-operation. Allied plans will be vitally dependent on the outcome of the present naval operations in this area.

A strong answer *o one recent Japanese claim, that of having “evacuated” Buna, was made today in a special announcement from General MacArthur’s headquarters, which says: “The statement in the Imperial Japanese headquarters communique that the Japanese in New Guinea, after the completion of their mission, evacuated the Buna area r at the end of January, has no basis in fact. It is a complete fabrication and must be regarded as propaganda rather than as a military report. The necessity for such subterfuge in the name of the Emperor himself represents a moral defeat even greater perhaps than the physical one he suffered. There was no evacuation of the Japanese from Buna at the end of January. At that time the last scattered remnants of the enemy were so surrounded that evacuation was no longer possible. Lieutenant-General Horii and his army have perished.” / MENACE GREATLY LESSENED. Declaring that the final American victory on Guadalcanal was hailed in Australia with admiration and relief, the “Sydney Morning Herald” says editorially: “While the danger to this country’s north and north-western coast remains, the menace from the north-east has been greatly lessened.” The enemy’s acknowledgment of a major defeat in the Solomons, adds the paper, incline them to look primarily to the safeguarding of their own bases. America’s two best-known military commentators, Major Feilding Eliot and Hanson Baldwin, are both urging a quick follow-up of the new Allied advantage in the Pacific. "From Celebes to the Gilberts, the enemy has been busy reinforcing and strengthening his old positions and establishing new ones,” writes Baldwin in the “New York Times.” He is creeping along the coasts to other objectives, weaving a tough and intricate web among the myriad archipelagos of the Pacific. We are consolidating our own positions, but it is not enough simply to do this. Stalemate must now be replaced by more decisive action.” PRESSURE ON WAU RELIEVED BY AUSTRALIAN ATTACKS. HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED’'" ON ENEMY. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 11. - The immediate Japanese threat to the strategically important areodrome at Wau, New Guinea, has been relieved by the Australian forces. Under pressure of our repeated attacks the enemy who only a fortnight ago came within 400 yards of the airfield, has inow been driven back from the village of Wandumi, eight miles away. It was announced earlier that the Japanese had retired to positions two miles from the airfield. Our artillery is harassing their retreat. The fortnights fighting has cost the Japanese at least 600 killed. Australian patrols continue to inflict heavy casualties. Lacking the security of fixed defences, enemy troops are stated to be easy marks for these experienced jungle fighters. Many isolated Japanese outposts have b.een surrounded and their small garrisons wiped out.

General MacArthur’s communique today also reports that an additional 50 Japanese stragglers have been killed by Allied patrols in the Kumusi River area. Nearly 200 enemy troops have been killed in this locality during the past few weeks.

Allied offensive air activity yesterday was on the smallest scale for some weeks. The only objectives were Toeal (Kai Islands), where Hudsons started fires in a daylight attack, and Übili on Wide Bay (New Britain), where a Fortress made a strafing sweep. The precise targets in each area have not been specified. The nine Liberators which made Tuesday’s destructive raid on Kendari, the important Japanese base in Celebes, flew further than the British planes bombing Berlin. They covered 2000 miles of ocean in flying conditions described as “atrocious.” lEach plane carried about 40001 b. of bombs. Building were wrecked and ammunition and petrol dumps exploded.