Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2580864

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STRONG ENEMY FORCE REPULSED IN PAPUA

AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION

LONE PLANE IN TOWNSVILLE RAID

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Wednesday.

Fighting beneath the slopes of a towering 13,200   peak of Mount Victoria, the highest point in the Owen Stanley Range, Australian ground forces at Kokoda yes- terday attacked a "strong, aggressive" Japanese combat parrel and drove it out from advanced positions.

Apparently, the enemy fought through yesterday from Oivi almost to Kokoda on Tuesday before being re- pelled.

While this strange ground war was being fought, a Japanese flying-boat carried out the third raid against Townsville and for the first time in Australia, fighters in- tercepted the raiders by night. The Japanese plane was forced to jettison its bombs In the sea in an endeavour

to make off.

Tracer bullets from the fighters   hit the 'plane repeatedly and the           flying-boat was last seen dropping     have been destroyed.

Three attacks were made by Al- lied aircraft yesterday against the Japanese landing positions at Gona and numerous hits were scored on enemy installations.

There is no evidence that Gona has been reinforced by the enemy since the landing last week, and it

is possible that a large proportion of the invading force has penetrated  

inland.

A hint of the strength of the Jap- anese force which had advanced 55 to 60 miles inland, was given to-day by General Headquarters which de- scribed the advance unit as a "strong, aggressive, Japanese patrol".

The local success by the Allied forces yesterday in driving back this patrol indicates that the ex- pected stiffening of resistance to fur- ther Japanese penetration has been achieved. If the Japanese intend to force the issue, it is probable that

there will be heavy fighting in the   next few days for the control of   Kokoda.

Some observers believe that the     capture of Kokoda was the purpose

of the Japanese landing at Gona. If   the enemy controls Kokoda, it will   gain the use of an airfield from which the Japanese could threaten   Port Moresby and also attempt to seize the control of the gold fields towns and airports at Wau and Bulolo, thereby get in behind the Australian jungle force that is con- siderably troubling Salamaua.

Kokoda is a small mountain vill- age and a Government hill station beneath the precipitous slopes of Mount Victoria. It is roughly 6000 feet above sea level in an area of precipitous mountains, and tough jungles.  

It is the only accessible settle- ment near the gap, a 7000 foot pass through the Owen Stanley Range, which is used by aircraft and foot travellers to negotiate the central mountain Carriers.

There is no doubt that our air   force will resist the enemy fiercely to retain control of this vital point.

In addition to the Townsville and Papuan activity, yesterday, there

was an Allied air raid on Koepang aerodrome in Timor. Enemy fight- ers failed to intercept them.

Under cover of darkness a single enemy plane sneaked in. and raided Port Moresby. Several bombs were dropped causing no damage.

The communique issued by Allied Headquarters was as follows:

North-west sector. Timor: An Al- lied unit bombed Koepang aerodrome, soaring hits in the target area. Enemy fighters unsuccessfully at- tempted to intercept.

North-east sector-Townsville: An enemy flyjngboat approached just after midnight and was intercepted by our fighters. It jettisoned its bombs in the sea and was last seen losing height. It is believed to have disappeared.

Port Moresby: A single enemy plane under cover of darkness drop- ped several bombs, without damage.

Gona: Allied air units carried out three attacks, scoring numerous hits on enemy installations. Allied ground patrols attacked and drove back the enemy from his advanced position.

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