TWO MILES AWAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 198, 21 August 1943, Page 5

TWO MILES AWAY

THRUST AT SALAMAUA

Small Enemy Resistance In Solomons N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 10.30 a.m. SYDNEY, this day. With the capture of Bobdubi Ridge, reported in yesterday's communique from General Mac Arthur's Headquarters, the Allied land forces are now only about two miles from the enemy airstrip at Salamaua, New Guinea. The Komiatum trail by which the Japanese supply their forward positions has been cut ..and the Allied threat to the enemy garrison at Salamaua itself has been considerably increased. The latest gain was made by Australian troops, who now command all the high ground on a three-mile front. Some of the positions overlook Salamaua.

War correspondents in this area report that Allied forces have also occupied the whole 2000 yards length of Roosevelt Ridge, which was captured a few days ago after months of solid fighting, backed by heavy air and artillery barrages. This ridge extends inland from the sea. The Japanese, however, continue to occupy some dominating positions. Allied troops at forward posts are now able to watch our aerial assaults on Salamaua. The latest attacks were made yesterday by Flying Fortresses and Liberators. They were not challenged. The only report on ground activity in the Solomons is that a small pocket of Japanese resistance which developed on Baanca Island, off the New Georgian coast near Munda, is being liquidated. It is believed a small enemy force escaped to Baanca from Munda. It was reported earlier that Munda had been shelled by enemy artillery on Baanca. Allied light surfact units continue to be active in Kula Gulf, between Bairoko and Vila. Enemy barges were dispersed during the night. Liberators on Wednesday scored near misses-against a 7000-ton enemy merchantman off Kavieng, New Ireland. North of Australia, another Liberator struck and seriously damaged a small enemy coastal vessel and lugger. , :