FAR FROM INVINCIBLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1943, Page 4

FAR FROM INVINCIBLE

THE JAPANESE SOLDIER „ 0 OBSERVATIONS BY AUSTRALIAN GENERAL. QUEER EXAMPLES OF ENEMY STUPIDITY. (By Telegraoh—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, September 4. Patience and encircling tactics are required to overcome the Japanese in jungle fighting, according to MajorGeneral S. G. Savige, who has been in command of operations in the Salamaua areas for five months. The enemy has been taught that encirclement is allimportant and scon becomes defeatist when this method is turned against him. “Tire invincibility of the Japanese soldier is a myth,” General Savage said. “His screaming -in battle is intended not so much to frighten his opponent as to keep up his own courage. He lias no desire whatever to join his ancestors, but when he gets into a foxhole he does not know what to do and acts rashly. The Japanese soldier is a slow thinker and even if he had a rifle to his shoulder when an Australian spotted him, the Australian would probably shoot him first. Our men are better bushmen than the Japanese. In the Wau-Salamaua campaign, our troops had the utmost contempt for the enemy.”

As an example of Japanese stupidity, General Savige said that once, when Australians mischievously set up a din with tins, it startled the Japanese on a neighbouring hillside so much that they stood up and fired in all directions, exposing their positions. On another occasion, in an ambush near Mt Tambu, two Japanese were found skulking in foxholes within ten yards of bitter hand to hand fighting. One was munching a biscuit and the other whittling a stick. Neither appeared greatly concerned in the outcome of the struggle.