CLOSING ON WAREO.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1943, Page 3

CLOSING ON WAREO.

AUSTRALIANS IN NEW GUINEA FORMIDABLE ENEMY DEFENCES. RESOLUTE STAND BY ENEMY EXPECTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, December 5. The Australian forces which are striking against the Japanese strongpoint of Wareo, on the Huon Peninsula in New Guinea, face still another hard battle. Sharp fighting in this area is reported in- today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters. Three A.I.F. columns are converging on Wareo. One is within half a mile of the enemy base and the other two columns have also made gains.

The Japanese at Wareo hold a formidable defensive position at the junction of the inland trails. This position dominates the surrounding jungle, making attack difficult. The occuping enemy garrison comprises troops who retreated from Finschhafen and Satelberg and is still strong. War correspondents on this front expect the Japanese will make a similar stand to that at Satelberg, seven miles to the south, which fell to the Australians only after nine days of hard fighting. Allied aircraft are continually harassing the enemy’s supply lines and are strafing the trails and bombing supply dumps along the far northern coast of Huon Peninsula. Early reports have suggested that the Japanese’ at Wareo are short of supplies. Evidence, has been found that packcarrying mules have been slaughtered for food.

The number of Japanese killed on the Huon Peninsula since tthe Aus-, tralian landing at Finschhafen on October 22 is 1848. This is the actual number of enemy dead counted. Estimating the wounded in a two-to-one ratio, which is the accepted figure in jungle warfare, this puts the Japanese casualties for the campaign at a conservative 5600. The true figure is probably higher, since the Japanese, whenever possible, recover their dead. Also, no estimate has been made of the enemy killed by Allied shellfire and bombs in the rear areas.