JAPANESE IN RETREAT

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24329, 7 August 1944, Page 5

JAPANESE IN RETREAT

Dutch New Guinea Area POSSIBILITY OF EVACUATION (Special Australian Corresp.. N.Zi».A.) (Kec. 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 6. The full-scale retreat of the 2nd Japanese Army toward the south-west coast of Dutch New Guinea is interpreted by General Mac Arthur as a move towards the wholesale evacuation of the island. Fearful of envelopment as the result of last week’s American landings at Sansapor, the Japanese are fleeing from their bases in the Geelvink Bay area. They are abandoning such strongholds as Manokwan, Nature, and Noemi. A spokesman at Allied Headquarters says that the Japanese face calamitous losses in their retreat. They must

struggle across difficult country carrying all their supplies. With command of the sea and air the Allies are ex- . pected to take heavy toll of the retreating forces. , The Japanese 2nd Army, under the command of General Fusataro Teshima, was charged with the defence of Dutch New Guinea, Its biggest concentration, estimated at 15,000 men, has been garrisoned at Manokwari at the western end of Geelvink . Bay. This force, together with other neighbouring garrisons, was isolated by the Americans’ Sansapor landings, and General Teshima apparently has realised the hopelessness of trying to hold his positions. A A large overland movement of the Japanese troops has been observed towards MacCluer Gulf, on the southwest coast, while other enemy groups are attempting to by-pass Sansapor along the inland trails to, reach Sorong, the Japanese base 60 miles to the west. Considerable barge activity has been noted on the north and east coasts of . Vbgelkop Peninsula, and General Teshima may also be attempting to evacuate' some of his troops by sea. ‘ „ , In British New Guinea General Adachi’s 18th Japanese Amy is also in sore straits. The American forces which -drove east of the Driniumor river have accounted for a further 440 enemy killed. More heavy air attacks have been made on General Adachi’s rear areas. •

General MacArthur’s communique to-day says: “The completely integrated teamwork of naval surface craft, aerial bombing, and strafing attacks over the last weeks has resulted in the systematic destruction of the enemy’s lines of communication. The sinking of a constantly shrinking number of barges, the destruction by direct hits of truck columns on roads and bridges, and the burning and firing of • supply dumps have undoubtedly been contributing factors in the enemy’s failure to deliver successfully a combined and co-ordin-ated attack. His main staging and bivouac areas present a picture of attrition and disaster in his rear.. It is estimated that 20,000 of his force , has been employed on this perilous line of communication with heavy personnel losses.’’

The trapped Japanese have made no attempts to renew their costly assaults on the Americans’ defence.

GUAM ADVANCE CONTINUED

FAILURE OF ENEMY ATTACK

22,000 CIVILIANS INTERNED

(Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Aug. 5. “Army troops have advanced approximately three miles north along the eastern shore of Guam to Lumuna Point, ’’ says a Pacific Fleet communique. “On the west coast marines have pushed about a mile ?md a half north to Amantes Point.

“On Thursday night, we repulsed a small enemy force of navy troops, which attempted to counter-attack. Eleven of the enemy were killed, bringing the total Japanese dead counted to 8129. Approximately 22,000 civilians on Guam had found refuge within our lines up to Friday. “Corsairs dropped 25 tons of bombs on Wotje on Thursday. Liberators dropped more than 60 tons of bombs on Truk atoll on Thursday. One ship near Dublon Island was left burning and other hits were observed at the Dublon naval base and on gun emplacements and barracks.” An earlier Pacific Fleet communique said that mopping up operations on Tinian Island were continuing. Additional civilians had been interned Scattered Japanese troops were still being hunted down on Saipan Island, an average of 50 a day being eliminated or taken prisoner. American aeroplanes attacked Nauru Island, and Japanese positions in the Marshall islands.

TASK FORCE OFF BONINS JAPANESE RADIO REPORT NEW YORK, Aug. 5. An American task force has been sighted off the Bonin and Volcano Islands according to the Tokyo radio. It was also stated that carrier-borne aircraft repeatedly raided Chichi Jima and Iwo Jima in the Bonin Islands on Friday.