Japanese Resistance Ended In Papua

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13055, 25 January 1943, Page 3

Japanese Resistance Ended In Papua

FIGHTING CEASED ON SATURDAY ENEMY SURPRISED BY AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE THROUGH SWAMPS LAE SALAMAUA, TIMOR AND RABAUL BOMBED London, Jan. 24. A communique issued from General Mac Arthur’s headquarters announces that all the remaining Japanese positions in Papua have now been captured. All land fighting ceased in Papua on Saturday. Only scattered groups of snipers and stragglers remain to he rounded up. The Allied forces took 11/ prisoners. The Australians fought their way through steaming swamps and took the enemy completely by surprise in the rear. The Japanese thought that their position was impregnable. Allied aircraft are now concentrating on the Japanese bases at Lae, Salamaua and other points. The enemy airfield at Timor was also attacked. At Rabaul in New Britain two more enemy ships were sunk yesterday and four on Saturday. Two others received direct hits*. Five enemy fighters out of a force of 12 were destroyed and two damaged. This is the third consecutive day on which Rabaul has been attacked. Mr J. A. Beasley, Australian Minister of Shipping, speaking about the termination of the campaign in Papua, said, “The enemy is still at our gates and if we are to survive we must not underestimate his capacity to attack,”