NEW LANDING

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

NEW LANDING

AUSTRALIANS IN NORTH BORNEO AIR AND NAVAL ACTIVITY. CONCENTRATED BLOWS. (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) ' CANBERRA, June 11. Troops of the 01 h Australian Division have landed in British North Borneo, which lias been in the occupation of the Japanese since December 17, 1941. This was announced to-day by the Acting-Prime Minister of Australia (Mr Js B. Chifley), who said details of the operations would he given in General MacArthur’s daily communiques. The latest communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters does not mention the invasion of British North Borneo, hut reports air and naval activity. The communique says: • “Heavy and medium bombers and fighter-bombers, carrying 213 tons of bombs, have made a concentrated attack on Brunei Bay supply and defence areas and Balik Papan flak positions. Our heavies destroyed three coastal vessels south of Balik Papan. Light naval units have shelled Sandakan.”

“American Liberators, medium, and fighter-bombers, and R.A.A.F. Beaufighters, in the fourth successive day of heavy attacks, yesterday struck concentrated blows in the Brunei Bay area of north-west Borneo, the site of the former Japanese naval base and British-owned oilfields and refineries,” says the “New York Times” correspondent in Manila. “The planes, in waves, plastered the defence areas and supply dumps, starting fires and explosions, and knocking out three flak positions. A total of

213 tons of bombs struck from Jesselton aerodrome to north of Brooketon, on the south-west side of the widespreading hay. Liberators made two heavy strikes on Friday and Saturday against Labuan Island, in the mouth of Brunei Bay.” The 9th Australian Division (“the Rats of Tobruk”), with Netherlands East, Indies troops, has played a major role in the six weeks’ compaign on Tarakan Island, off the east coast of Borneo: The division first saw active service in the Middle East and became famous for Hie stand taken at Tobruk.

A cablegram from London says: It is announced at General MacArtliur’s headquarters that four landings in British North Borneo were made yesterday by the 9th Australian Division. Three of the landings were in the Brunei Bay area, including Labuan Island, and the fourth landing was made on the east coast. General MacArthur personally directed the operations. He landed on Labuan Island with Lieut.General G. C. Kenney, the Allied air commander, and the Australian commander, Lieut.-General Sir Leslie Morshead.