APPROACH TO MINDANAO

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24270, 30 May 1944, Page 5

APPROACH TO MINDANAO

Allies In Position For New Moves RESULTS OF NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN (Special Australian Corresp.. N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 29. An official spokesman at General MacArthur’s headquarters said that Japanese ground forces estimated at 250.000 had been destroyed or neutralised during the last 11 months in the south-west Pacific area. The enemy had lost 272 ships, 5256 aircraft, and 2317 barges. The number of Japanese prisoners taken was 1659. “The occupation of Biak Island,” he said, "will give the Allies a springboard for offensives against both the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies. “Halmahera, the big enemy air base between Dutch New Guinea aiid tlw Celebes, and the principal obstacle in the way of an Allied* drive to Mindanao, is only about 400 miles awav. From Biak to Mindanao Is about 800 air miles. Pelew, the big naval base in the western Carolines, is less than 600 miles to the north from Biak.” On Biak Island there are three important airfields. They lie between Bosnek village, now in American hands, and Sorido village. 14 miles to the west. The Japanese have built a tramway which connects the three airstrips. TRAPPED ARMY’S PLIGHT (Rec. 12 mid.) SYDNEY. May 29. General MacArthur’s communique to-day reports that one Allied patrol killed 59 Japanese and found another 300 dead between Wewak and Hollandia. "Our operations in the WakdeSarmi area,” says the communique, ‘‘jeopardise their only possible escape route. A realisation of their fate has apparently broken the enemy’s morale, and his forces trapped in the area in New Guinea are beginning to disintegrate into straggling groups seeking only food and escape.” This force was once estimated to be 60.000 strong. . "