TANK BATTLE ON BIAK
FIRST IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC JAPANESE COUNTERATTACK (Special Australian Corresp.. N.Z.P.A.) • (Hec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 31. The first tank battle of 1 the southwest Pacific war developed v during fierce fighting on Biak Island, Dutch New Guinea, on Monday. Japanese light and medium tanks formed the spearhead of an enemy counter-thrust against the American invasion troops driving towards the Mokmer airfield from Mokmer village. American medium tanks defeated the Japanese armoured forces, destroying eight tanks and damaging others. Artillery also went into action on both sides. Allied warships and aircraft gave support. ' In fierce clashes with troops of the Japanese 36th Division some forward ground changed hands several times. However, the enemy forces were finally repulsed and left many dead. Liberators have dropped 80 tons of bombs on Japanese positions round Mokmer airfield, while Mitchells and Bostons have been making low level strafing dnd bombing raids. Thunderbolts destroyed three Japanese fighters and two others were shot down by Allied naval gunfire, and one by ground fire. Enemy snipers operating from carefully concealed hide-outs in the hills overlooking the coastal road to the Mokmer airfield are proving troublesome to the Americans, who are continuing the work of consolidating their positions before launching a final attack. On the New Guinea mainland opposite Wakde Island American troops are within a mile of the Maflln airstrip. More than 200 additional Japanese dead have counted in this sector, bringing the total of known enemy losses in the Wakde-Sami area to 1347. It is now disclosed that transport aircraft delivered 2000 loads of men, fuel, and ammunition in 20 days to'Hollandia in preparation for the invasion of Wakde Island on May 18. A small American force landed at Boeksi. 15 miles west of the Hollandia beachhead, on Thursday. This force has cut more Japanese escape routes from Hollandia. The landing parties killed a small number of enemy stragglers. Japanese dead and captured at Hoi l land in now total 3782.
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Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24272, 1 June 1944, Page 5
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328TANK BATTLE ON BIAK Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24272, 1 June 1944, Page 5
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