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370 DE TWEEDE WERELDOORLOG
In August the Japanese attempted to land troops at Milne Bay, which flanked
Port Moresby and covered its seaward approaches, with the intention of providing
the overland operation with support from the sea.
General Douglas Mac Arthur, Supreme Commander of the Southwest Pacific
Area, had ordered the establishment of a base in the Milne Bay area in May 1942,
in order to give flank protection to Port Moresby.
The Japanese did their utmost to capture the easternmost airstrip, but failed.
Since the Japanese troops were physically incapable of making a further stand,
the order was issued to evacuate Milne Bay.
The victory of Milne Bay, which General Mac Arthur attributed to the complete
surprise by preliminary concentration of superior forces, had snapped the
Southern prong of the pincers which the Japanese had hoped to apply to Port
Moresby.
On the Southern ridge of the Owen Stanley mountain the Australians stemmed
the Japanese onslaught. The bombing of the Japanese supply lines and flanking
attack forced the enemy to make a hasty withdrawal.
Allied strategy was now shifting from defence to counter-attack.
While the Australians pursued the Japanese towards Kokoda, the U.S. forces
made a wide envelopment to the east and hit the enemy's left flank in the vicinity
of Buna. This move was to cut off the retreat of the Japanese force facing the
Australians but the enemy had constructed two almost impregnable defensive
lines in the swampy jungle. Very fierce fighting took place and only after reinforcements
had arrived, did the Buna, Gona and Sanananda front fall into the
hands of the Allied forces.
By 22nd January, 1943, the operations were finished.
A swift surprise thrust to the Wau airstrip was planned by the Japanese command.
Assault troops for this purpose were landed at Lae on 9th January, 1943,
and pushed on to Mubo, from which two trails led to Wau. Both trails were
known to the Australians, but between them was an old track, partly surveyed
by a German before the last war.
By pushing their main bodes along this 30 years old track the Japanese succeeded
in penetrating into the Wau valley.
Then a delaying action was begun by the small garrison. In a desperate situation
against an overwhelming weight of numbers, the Australians were forced back
and outflanked, but they gained valuable time, which enabled reinforcements to
be sent by air from Port Moresby. On 4th February the enemy was forced to
withdraw towards Mubo, badly battered and demoralised by shell fire.
Only now could Port Moresby be considered as rescued.
The Allied Counter Offensive
After the fall of Sanananda, preparations were made for an offensive against
the harbours on the North coast of New Guinea, which were in Japanese hands.