COAST ADVANCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 58, 9 March 1944, Page 5

COAST ADVANCE

NEW BRITAIN MOVE American Force Increases Threat To Rabaul N.Z. Press Association—copyright SYDNEY, Mar. 8. The new American landing at Talasea, New Britain, which was reported yesterday was made by United States marines moving up the coast from Cape Gloucester. Talasea, which is on the north coast of New Britain, is 110 miles east of Cape Gloucester, where a landing was made on December 26.

The routed Japanese troops from the Cape Gloucester area are trapped by the new landing, which encountered only light enemy opposition. The Americans have occupied Volupai plantation, five miles north-west of Talasea. Simultaneously with this advance, American patrols on the southern side of the island have pushed 24 miles east from their beachhead at Arawe to reach Amgoring. United States forces landed at Arawe on December 15.

The landing accentuates the threat to Rabaul, which, in face of relentless sea and air bombardment, is rapidly becoming untenable as an operational and supply base. Rabaul township and the Tobera aerodrome were Ijit with 98 tons of bombs in the latest attack, one wharf being damaged by a direct hit. Fires broke' out along the waterfront and five parked Japanese planes were destroyed. Two'small merchant vessels in the bay were forced to the beach and six barges were destroyed.