Evening star., 1942-01-26
Australian Militia
Hurled Into Battle
On Invaded Islands
II japanese Assaults
Reported RepuIsed
On New Britoin

| NSHSssSS wv SHSsSSS
On New Brituin
By the Associated Press.
MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan
26.-Civilians were removed to-
day from cities in New Guinea
and in the heart of the Solomon
Islands as jungle-trained Aus
tralian militia battle invasion
forces in the hills of New Britain
and New Ireland and the Japa-
nese hurled new landing forces
into the arc of islands protecting
this continent.
The steadily broadening opera
tions covered a broken front EXTEND
ing almost 1000 miles from North
ern New Guinea east to Florida Is
land.
australian forces fighting be-
hind the japanese occupied city
of Rabaul, capital of New Britain,
have repulsed II japanese attacks
In the past two days even though
most of the Australians are re-
ceiving their baptism of fire and
are greatly outnumbered, Austral-
ian reports to Sydney said. The
Australians were believed to hold
strong vantage points. The jap
anese were strongly supported by
planes from aircraft carriers but
it was said some of these had
been withdrawn for operations
against New Guinea.
CThe Exchange Telegraph,
British news agency, heard a
German broadcast today citing
unconfirmed reports from Ba-
tavia that the Australian port
and naval harbor of Darwin was
bombed this morning.
Australia Gets Staff Post.
Prime Minister John Curtin de-
clared that arrangements already
were under way to give Australia a
place on Gen. Sir Archibald P.
Wavell's Southwest Pacific staff and
said Australia's views on the war
strategy had been placed plainly
before Prime Minister Churchill and
President Roosevelt.
While the militia fought a delay
ing action, the war cabinet ordered
immediate full mobilization of work.
ing and fighting manpower. All
men up to go years of age will be
required to register. Enrolment OF
women is expected to follow.
With the japanese gaining bases
within striking distance of the
mainland, bomb disposal squads
were being formed in Australian
cities and steps were taken to ex-
tend the present blackout to all
coastal communities.
Army Minister Francis Forde an
nounced that civilians were being
taken from bombed Madang in
Northeastern New Guinea and Tu-
lagi on Florida Island in the
! Solomons. Civilians were removed
from the east coast New Guinea
town of Lac during the week end.
(There was no immediate in
dication whether the evacuation
was prompted by fear Of further
bombings or indicated Australian
preparation to stand off expected
Japanese landing atemptsO
Coast Town Under Attack.
Even while Madang and Tulagi
we're being cleared of civilians, the
coastal town of Wewak, northwest
of Madang, was reported under
japanese aerial attack. Communica-
tions with previously-bombed Bu-
lolo, however, were re-established.
Australia's militia, in action for
the first time,in the commemorative s
history, were said to be largely BUSH
men from Victoria, long trained for
fighting in the jungles of the main
land and New Guinea.
Reports reaching here indicated
that they were holding out in p hard
fighting stand in the hills south OF
Rabaul, at the northern end of New
Britain, roughly 400 miles east OF
Madang.
| Japanese who landed there from
IL transports were estimated to
number at least 10000, heavily out
numbering the defense forces.
Other japanese forces were ashore
on New Ireland, northeast of New
Britain, after landings last week
near Kavieng
Reports here said that in the
northeastern Solomon group the
Japanese had put still further troops
ashore at Kieta last night, rein.
forcing a previous landing on the
island Of Bougainville.
There were unconfirmed report.
that still further Japanese landing,
had been made along Buka passage
between New Ireland and thu
Solomons.