STRATEGIC PRIZE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 205, 12 June 1945, Page 3

STRATEGIC PRIZE

MACARTHUR’S ASSESSMENT. IN CENTRE OF ENEMY AREA. LOW COST OF LIFE. (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) (Rec 11.0. a.m.) NEW YORK, June 11. Australian troops have landed al four points in British North Borneo. General MacArthnr announces that the landings were at two places—on Labuan Island and at Brooketon and Maura, in Brunei Bay. A few hours after the landings General MacArthur stated: "‘Rarely is such a great strategic prize obtained at such a low cost of life.” Australian naval units look part in the bombardment. The United Press correspondent at Manila says that the landings on Labuan are on the opposite. side of the island. The Australian troops are commanded by Lieut.-General Sir Leslie Morshead. General MacArthur and the commander of the United. States 13th air force went ashore with the assault waves on Labuan.

The commander of the 7th Fleet (Rear-Admiral Forrest Royal) had command of the amphibious forces, RearAdmiral Ralph Briggs led a covering force and Rear-Admiral Russel Berkey directed the bombardment. General MacArthur’s communique says: “Operations from the Philippine bases had already practically destroyed enemy shipping in the South China Sea. We shall now be able to attack his overland lines of communication and escape routes in Indo-China and Malaya. Our columns at Brunei and Tarakan stand, not at the gates, but at the geographical centre of enemyoccupied Celebes, Bali, Java, Sumatra, Malaya and Indo-China. His garrisons there can now only await piecemeal destruction at will. With his conquest in the East Indies he is cut off and isolated from the Empire. His rich resources in these areas is rendered valueless. His naval and air arms in the Indies are impotent. His ground troops are inynobilised and unable to obtain reinforcements or supplies. The enemy invader has definitely lost the war of strategy in the South-west Pacific.” The Columbia Broadcasting System’s correspondent, broadcasting from Manila, said that the Australians were driving forward at a steady rate when he ’fiew from Brunei eight hours previously. They broke through the enemy lines at Victoria Town, the seat of the former Straits Settlements Government. They captured the airport with light casualties. Lone Japanese Plane. The Mutual Network’s correspondent, broadcasting from Borneo, said that the only opposition was from a lone Japanese plane, which fled after dropping a single bomb. The Japanese were driven 3000 yards inland by naval gunfire and aerial bombardment before the actual invasion. The Australians quickly captured the Labuan airstrip and large quantities of supplies were landed within four hours ot the initial landings. The United Press of America correspondent with the Australians said that the forces which “hit” the mainland were in two troops. One landed just north of a bluff and pushed 1500 yards across Cape Pempelong at the south-west corner of Brunei Bay and captured Brooketon, where they established its headquarters. This force by 10 a.m. to-day had advanced 3000 yards, where it met the second column coming up from the bluff area. Both forces then pushed toward the town of (Brunei. The troops who landed on the southeastern tip of Labuan Island captured Victoria Town and the Labuan aerodrome during a thrust of 2h miles inland.

The third landing was made on the tiny island of Maura, just off Brooketon'. No resistance was met here and the island was two-thirds cleared within 24 hours of the initial landings. The correspondent says it is estimated that between 2000 and 3000 Japanese troops are in the Brunei Bay area. They are offering only ineffective resistance. Our naval forces, however, encountered mines and other underwater obstacles which minesweepers cleared. The invasion fleet comprised 200 naval vessels, including eight Australian. Surf and cross-currents made it most difficult to land wheeled vehicles on the Brunei bluff beachhead. Guns and ammunition were packed in boxes which the Australians towed ashore, wading the 60 yards through the surf. Within three minutes of landing, the guns were firing.