STRONG DEFENCE OF AIRFIELD

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24271, 31 May 1944, Page 3

STRONG DEFENCE OF AIRFIELD

JAPANESE ON BIAK ISLAND AUSTRALIANS MOVE UP COAST (Special Australian Corresp.. N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 30. The American troops who arc invading lliak Island, off Dutch New Guinea, are still meeting still Japanese resistance. In spite of the opposition. however, they have advanced to within two miles of the Mokmer aerodrome. Reinforcements and supplies have arrived at the beachhead and the Americans are now consolidating then positions in preparation for a final assault on Mokmer. Their perimeter extends six miles along the coast and beyond the village of Parai, which is only six miles from Bosnek, which fell to the Americans soon after their landing. Bosnek was apparently an important Japanese depot. Supply dumps captured there included ammunition, food, wine, and a large store of chemical warfare equipment. The enemy is believed to be digging strong defensive lines covering the Mokmer aerodrome, the approach to which lies along a coastal road dominated by a line of ridges on which enemy snipers hold positions. No new enemy air attacks have been made on the American beachhead. This lack of Japanese aerial activity is probably due to neutralising raids made by strong Liberator formations on airfields throughout the Geelvink Bay area. Seven airfields were attacked on Sunday. Rive parked aircraft were destroyed and a 1000-ton vessel was sunk. Ground fighting has died down temporarily at Maffin Bay, on the Dutch New Guinea mainland, 200 miles east of Biak Island. The Americans are consolidating their positions on high ground overlooking the Maffin aerodrome, but the air strip is still in Japanese hands. In British New Guinea, Australian infantry, driving up the coast, on Sunday occupied Bunabun harbour, without opposition. Bunabun was formerly an important Japanese staging base. It lies 55 miles north-west of Madang, Remnants of the enemy’s 18th Army are trapped between the Australians at Bunabun and the Americans at Aitape. The Australians are only 40 miles from Hansa Bay, towards which

the enemy garrison from Bunabun has withdrawn.

Liberators from the newly-won airfields in the Admiralties continue their raids on Truk, and Rabaul, New Britain, is still being attacked daily by Solomons-based ’planes. On Saturday more than 100 tons of bombs were dropped on the Tobera aerodrome and defence areas.

A Washington message says that Mitchell bombers strafed the Ponape and Pakin islands in daylight on Friday. Other bombers and fighters bombed and stra'fed the remaining targets in the Marshalls. A later Pacific Fleet communique renorls that Army Liberators dropped 101 tons of bombs on Ponape in daylight on Saturday, hitting the principal targets in Ponape town and on airfields, barracks, hangars, and storage areas. The flak was moderate. Navy aircraft dropped 50 tons of bombs on Wotje on Saturday afternoon. Other Navy planes attacked other objectives in the Marshalls.

TRUK STILL STRONG

OBSTACLE IN CENTRAL PACIFIC

ENEMY HOLDS UNDER BOMBING

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 29. "After three months of almost constant bombing there is no sign of any appreciable weakening and plenty of evidence that Truk is still a potent obstacle to our westward push across the central Pacific,” says the Pearl Harbour correspondent of the “New York Times.” “Army bombers are making almost daily runs to ‘heat’ the Carolines defences. The crews have a healthy respect for the Japanese garrison. They say that Truk is a long way from the condition known to exist at Jaluit, Mili and other enemy-held atolls m the Marshalls, which have been ‘processed.’ “The Japanese have been meeting our night bombers with some German defence methods, including phosphorus bombs dropped from above. “Air observers in the Pacific know that the Zeros are no longer as expendable as was the case earlier in the war. Pacific Fleet announcements rarely mention air interception m force and scarcely ever over Truk, where, usually, only about four planes go up but keep away from our bombers. Guns are apparently the only direct ground defences. As an air base Truk is definitely third-rate, but is still well defended from the ground.”

OFFENSIVE IN HUNAN

JAPANESE MAKE PROGRESS

(Rec. 12.30 0.m.) CHUNGKING, M.v 29. The new Japanese drive .n Hunan Province threatens Siangym 30 miles north of Changsha, says an Associated Press correspondent. Siangym s fall would protect the Japanese right flank advancing against Changsha. Repelled three times previously, the Japanese are apparently aiming at a fourth battle of Changsha, and ulti matcly at complete control of the Can-ton-Hankow railway, he says Chinese and American anciaft, in a raid on Sinyang, caught the unprepared, says General SUlwel) s cominuniouc. Barracks and trampoit were considerably damaged, and many casualties were inflicted. Fighleibombers strafed installations at Namchang destroyed trucks and sampans, and strafed the Yochow-Puchi road.

Prisoners Forced to Hard Labour. About. 20,000 British. American and Filipino prisoners, forced to hard labour on the Thailand-Burma railway,’ have died through ill treatment, lack of medicines, and under-nourishment in the last 18 months, says the Chinese Central News Agency. The announcement said that 250,000 prisoners were doing forced work on the railway.— Chungking, May 28.