FIGHTING ROUND MUBO

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23943, 10 May 1943, Page 5

FIGHTING ROUND MUBO

AUSTRALIAN PATROLS ADVANCE SUPPLY DIFFICULTIES IN NEW GUINEA (Special Australian Corresp.. N.Z.P.A.) (Rcc. 10 p.rp.) SYDNEY. May 9. Supply difficulties may force the Japanese to abandon their positions round Mubo, the inland outpost protecting their northern New Guinea coastal base of Salamaua. Mubo village itself is already a no-man’s land. However, 1 aggressive Australian patrol activity in this area cannot yet be regarded as the opening of a campaign to retake Salamaua and its companion base of Lae. , . Che latest Australian success in this area was the occupation of Bobdubi, a small village on the swift-flowing Francisco river. This brought the Allied troops within five air miles of Salamaua. The- village was captured last Wednesday after picked troops had made a wide detour round the enemy positions closer to Mubo. The Japanese at Bobdubi lost heavily as they were compelled to withdraw. At the same time part of a force of Japanese moving along the SalamauaMubo track, near Komiatum, the midway point on the track, was wiped out in one of the most successful ambushes staged by the Australian troops for some time. Twenty-five Japanese were killed and the remainder fled. Actions similar to that resulting in the capture of Bobdubi have been going on round Mubo for about two months, and for some time the fighting in the area is likely to continue to be limited to patrol skirmishing. As during the Papuan campaign, one of the greatest problems of the Allied forces is that of supply. It is difficult enough to transport fighting positions from which they can fan out to battle sectors, but the hardest task is to move forward adequate supplies. This is the great limiting factor in the Allied offensive, and it can be authoritatively stated that no great strategic moves are bound up with the patrol actions current round Mubo. Rugged country, and alternating rain and heat during the day, and bitterly cold nights, make heavy demands on both men and equipment. For instance the life of a pair of stout Army boots is at best a few weeks. “It is a rotten, unreal land,” said an Australian field officer who has just returned from the fighting. “When you get a panorama you see a never-end-ing series of 60-degree sided gorges or one outstanding hill 7000 feet high with ridges curling away from it making it look like a huge octopus.” While difficulties attend the Allied supply position, that of the Japanese troops round Mubo is much more acute. The occupation of Bobdubi cuts one supply trail. Allied attack aeroplanes are maintaining daily strafing raids on the enemy’s forward positions, while their arterial supply line among the north New Guinea coastal roads is being relentlessly attacked. Madang was the target for two heavy httacks by Liberators and Flying Fortresses on Friday. They blew up fuel and store dumps and set on fire other military installations.

OCCUPIED BY U.S. FORCES

AMCHITKA ISLAND IN ALEUTIANS

AIRFIELD ESTABLISHED (Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 7. United States forces have established military positions, including an airfield, on Amchitka in the Rat Islands group of the Aleutians, in which Kiska is also located. This is announced in a United States Army communique, which also states that before the , occupation of Amchitka, American forces had - occupied Adak Island in the,, Andreanofs. The announcement of the occupation of Amchitka was withheld until the American positions had been fully consolidated. Weather presented the greatest obstacle to the operation, damaging landing craft and causing privation to personnel. Subsequently Japanese aircraft made bombing attacks on the area.

“The occupation of Amchitka and Adak Islands is part of the United States programme of aggressive and offensive war,” said the Secretary of the United States Navy (Colonel Frank Knox).

Asked at a press conference whether the Japanese forces at Kiska were now doomed. Colonel Knox said; “We are much closer to Kiska, which is within easy reach by air. The situation is certainly improved.” Naval experts in Washington doubt that Amchitka will be used as a base for raids against Tokyo, says the United Press of America. They point out that American bombers could easily cover the return journey, but could not carry an effective load of bombs. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says that in spite of the intensified American air offensive since the occupation of Amchitka. the Japanese continue doggedly to' build a landing field for fighter aeroplanes at Kiska, and a bomber field at Attu, the most westerly island of the Aleutians. The correspondent adds that it is believed that there arp 10.000 Japanese on these two bases. On Wednesday American Army aeroplanes made six attacks on Kiska, causing damage at the main Japanese camp and at their submarine base. In the North Pacific on Thursday a formation of Army Warhawks carried out five attacks on Japanese installations at Kiska. Bombs were dropped and in all the target areas direct hits were scored on enemy positions. The same day a formation carried out seven attacks on Attu. Hits were scored in air the target areas and several fires were started. PREPARATIONS BY JAPAN BERLIN COMMENT (Rec, 12.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 8, The Berlin “Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung” predicts that the' war in the Far East is about to enter a new phase, reports the Berne correspondent of the “New York Times.” The newspaper explains that General Yahagi’s statement represents a departure from the previous Japanese practice, which studiously avoided discussion of impending military operations. It adds that the Japanese expeditionary forces are intact and equipped to strike a fresh blow after a long period of idleness. The local fighting in New Guinea, the Solomons, and Burma did not absorb appreciable numbers of Japanese front-line troops.

JAPANESE DRIVE IN CHINA

(Rec. 8 p.m.) CHUNGKING, May 7. The Japanese who landed on the south shore of Tungting Lake were completely driven away as a result of a vigorous counter-attack yesterday, reports the ‘‘Central News." The invaders suffered heavy casualties and fled across the lake to Yocho.

The strong Japanese force ■which crossed Tungting Lake was launched under aeroplane cover and effected a lodgment on the southern shores, indi. eating a new Japanese drive against Changsha. Fighting is continuing. The Chinese victory at Tungting Lake is confirmed in the Chungking communique, w'hich adds that other Japanese units launched a concentrated attack at Ansiang, accompanied by a ruthless bombardment, and finally broke into the town from which the Chinese had withdrawn, having inflicted more than 800 casualties on the enemy. Several hundred Japanese plain clothes men. who penetrated the Chinese lines, appeared at Hukow and were rounded up and wiped out.