On the 24th of September 1942 General Horri received a telegram from the Commander of the Southern Area Army. It stated: “Stop attacking Port Moresby and wait for further instructions at present position”.
Later in the day a second message was received, it read: “Withdrawal from present position to some point in the Owen Stanley Range which you may consider best for strategic purposes”.
General Horrie was infuriated and was unbelieving of the commands and instructions he was receiving. Horri at one point grasped his sword and stated “I will not retreat an inch. I’d rather disguise myself as a native of these mountains and stay here”.
It was not long before a further message was received, it stated: “The commander of the South Seas Force will assemble his main strength in the Isurava and Kokoda areas and secure these as a base for future offensives. In addition, the defences in the Buna area will be strengthened”.
Soon after this message was received a further message was received, this time from the Imperial Headquarters in Tokyo, it confirmed the orders preceding it and had to be obeyed.
The troops that were dug in along Ioribaiwa Ridge were told of the impending withdrawal the next morning. They were shocked and in disbelief, they were hungry, sick, and very tired; however, there goal seemed so close and after so many sacrifices and so many causalities it was hard to understand.
The Japanese Army has no plan for retreat it was not in the manuals and it was not a concept they understood. General Horrie and his senior officers devised an adhoc plan to suit this abnormal situation.
General Horrie ordered his forces on the Kokoda Track to “advance to the rear” and to “change their marching direction”.
However it was disguised or explained, the fact was they were no longer moving forward towards Port Moresby. The South Seas force were retreating and in an organised orderly fashion the Units withdrew to the rear whilst the Australian’s awaited the next Japanese attacks from Imita Ridge, attacks that never eventuated.
Later in the day a second message was received, it read: “Withdrawal from present position to some point in the Owen Stanley Range which you may consider best for strategic purposes”.
General Horrie was infuriated and was unbelieving of the commands and instructions he was receiving. Horri at one point grasped his sword and stated “I will not retreat an inch. I’d rather disguise myself as a native of these mountains and stay here”.
It was not long before a further message was received, it stated: “The commander of the South Seas Force will assemble his main strength in the Isurava and Kokoda areas and secure these as a base for future offensives. In addition, the defences in the Buna area will be strengthened”.
Soon after this message was received a further message was received, this time from the Imperial Headquarters in Tokyo, it confirmed the orders preceding it and had to be obeyed.
The troops that were dug in along Ioribaiwa Ridge were told of the impending withdrawal the next morning. They were shocked and in disbelief, they were hungry, sick, and very tired; however, there goal seemed so close and after so many sacrifices and so many causalities it was hard to understand.
The Japanese Army has no plan for retreat it was not in the manuals and it was not a concept they understood. General Horrie and his senior officers devised an adhoc plan to suit this abnormal situation.
General Horrie ordered his forces on the Kokoda Track to “advance to the rear” and to “change their marching direction”.
However it was disguised or explained, the fact was they were no longer moving forward towards Port Moresby. The South Seas force were retreating and in an organised orderly fashion the Units withdrew to the rear whilst the Australian’s awaited the next Japanese attacks from Imita Ridge, attacks that never eventuated.
