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Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1943, Page 4

DECLINE NOTED

IN JAPANESE MORALE IN NEW GUINEA NERVOUSNESS AND INDECISION APPARENT. S? EFFECT OF ALLIED OPERATIONS (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 14. The Japanese are showing a nervousness and indecision not previously observed in New Guinea, says Mr Frank Kluckhorn, “New York Times” war correspondent in the South-West Pacific. Their morale is not what it was in the Buna campaign, six months ago. “The obvious weakening of their morale,” he adds, “is due to a series of reverses, in addition, to malaria, bush typhus and other diseases, which are taking a heavier toll of the Japanese than.the Allies. One thing is certain, we have found the key to successful fighting in this area in co-ordinated, amphibious land and air operations, having more k of the necessary implements for it than the Japanese. The bringing in and the supplying of a very large body of Australian troops at two points along the land side of Lae’s defences was one of the greatest achievements in any war theatre.”