ALLIED PROGRESS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 295, 13 December 1943, Page 3

ALLIED PROGRESS

Driving Japanese From Huon

Peninsula

STAND AT BOUGAINVILLE

Rec. 2.30 p.m.

SYDNEY, this day.

The Australian forces which are steadily driving the Japanese from Huon Peninsula, New Guinea, have made further progress. Advancing along the coast, one A.I.F. column has thrown the enemy back from prepared positions in the difficult country of the valley of the Tunom River. The Japanese abandoned more than 100 dead in this sector. Allied aircraft and torpedo-boats are maintaining their disruptive attacks against Japanese barge communications and possible escape points on the northern coast of the Huon Peninsula. J , T .v On Bougainville Island, Northern Solomons, a Japanese attack on the American beach-head at Empress Augusta Bay was defeated. General Mac Arthur's communique to-day also reports further air blows against Japanese bases in the western part of New Britain, principally at Borgen Bay, an important barge base 60 miles across Vitiaz Strait from Huon Peninsula. Oil refineries at Balik Papan, Borneo, have been ttombed, large fires resulting. In the Celebes, a bombing attack on Macassar harbour started fires on the wharves.