HEAVY TASK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1943, Page 3

HEAVY TASK

FACED BY AUSTRALIANS IN NEW GUINEA ATTACK ON JAPANESE MAIN DEFENCES. TOILSOME AND DIFFICULT CAMPAIGN. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, November 8. A.I.F. forces in New Guinea are probing and thrusting at the Japanese defences round Satelberg, 10 miles northwest of Finschhafen. They have tested the enemy’s strength and repeatedly inflicted casualties, and now, in the first fine weather for weeks, these A.I.F. troops are battling against the enemy’s main defences. The Japanese have established a heavily-armed fortress in the area, but their hold is being steadily whittled away. This country is covered with dense clumps of bamboo interlaced with vines and creepers. The enemy must be blasted out of each separate post, and the Australians have to hack their way -step by step through the jungle in order to come to grips with the Japanese. As well as being stubborn in defence, the Japanese have launched some vigorous counterattacks.

One of the cruellest features of this grim jungle fighting is the difficulty of evacuating the wounded. Casualties have to be carried down a narrow, slippery, jolting track for 1000 yards to the jeep-head, and four to six bearers are needed to keep the stretcher upright. Then the jeeps carry the wounded over four miles of rough road to the dressing station. With a break of only five days, many of the Australians have been in constant contact with the enemy since the Finschhafen landing on September 22. During this time they have had little rest, because they have been close to the Japanese and the tension is never off. They have to carry their own food and water into the forward area over a track along parts of which a human chain must be formed to drag up each member of the party. Three hours are needed for the 1000-yards climb.