U.S. FORCES IN HALMAHERA

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24365, 18 September 1944, Page 5

U.S. FORCES IN HALMAHERA

STRONG BRIDGEHEAD ON MOROTAI CAPTURE OF PITOE AIRSTRIP (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept 17. General Mac Arthur’s troops have established a strong bridgehead on Morotai Island, in the Halmahera group, which was invaded on Friday. They have seized Pitoe airstrip, which is already being enlarged by United States engineers. Morotai is 15 miles north of Halmahera and 280 miles south-east of the Philippines. „• Immediately after the landing General Mac Arthur told his men that the Allies would soon have an air as well as a light naval base there. Engineers are now striving to complete the airfield from which fighters will be able to escort bombers in mass raids on the Philippines. They, will be able to range beyond Mindanao, which so far has been the main target for south-west Pacific Command aircraft. From Morotai the Allies will also be able to inaugurate a blockade of Japa-

nese sea communications with the Celebes, Borneo, and other areas of the Netherlands East Indies. Pitoe airstrip, which was built by the Japanese during their occupation of Morotai, was found to be partly overgrown. The surrounding country is ideal for airfield construction, being flat and well drained. This important strategic conquest on the road to the Philippines has been secured almost bloodlessly. Occasional sniper fire was the only resistance encountered by the Americans who captured Pitoe. The Japanese remnants have now fled to the hills. The feeble enemy opposition confirmed earlier estimates that the Japanese had concentrated their strength on the main Halmahera island just to the south. Meanwhile reinforcements and tons of equipment have been put ashore at Morotai without any hostile aircraft being sighted. Carrier and land-based aeroplanes continue to support the American ground troops. General MacArthur’s week-end communiques are devoted mainly to the new landing operations on Morotai, in the Halmaheras. They report heavy bombing attacks on bases from which the Japanese might draw belated aerial support.

In the Halmaheras, Lolabata and Hatetabaka airfields were raided, while in the northern Celebes a big Japanese aerodrome at Mapanget was the target for a record bombload of 185 tons. Harassing attacks were also made

ALLIED GAINS IN BURMA AIR ATTACK ON MOUtMEB) (See. 9 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. It* "Operations by. the sth Indian Division to clear the Manipur river crossings on the Tiddim road are progressing,” says a South-east Asia Command' communique. “Troops of Uto Army are operating across the. Chinawin river and met no organised resistance in the coastal sector. . ; “Enemy artillery shelled our advanced positions south of Maungdaw. There was patrol activity in norm Burma. , . _ ' “Most of the air attacks on Friday: were against enemy forces regrouping in the Wanling areas on the Burma road.” ... - “The hills on the outer positions of the Japanese defences at the ManipuJ river crossings on the Tiddim road have been captured," said an earlier communique. . „ ' “In north Burma, -British unite patrolled in the Hopin area. Japanese road, rail, and water communication* in north, central, and south Burma were again attacked on Thursday from the air. Three Allied aircraft are missing Three minutes of “shock attack" on the Japanese-occupied port of Moulmein, the terminus on the Burma-Siam railway, were made by Royal Air Force aircraft in daylight on Wednesday, says a correspondent. Bursts were seen in the railway station and jetty areas, and several crews reported see- , ing railway lines hit

against enemy small shipping in these waters. . The Tokyo radio announces that civilians are being evacuated from Davao, the chief port of Mindanao, _ in anticipation of the American invasion of the Philippines. , . L . . - “We are on the eve of a decisive bat- . tie,” said a Domei News Agency dispatch. “Allied strategy is to cut off the southern regions from Japan, seize bases from which continuous bombing of Japan can be launched, and accelerate preparations for a direct assault on Japan itself.” General Mac Arthur said that the new American landings on Morotai and Palau would produce a severe reaction in Japan. “No sophistry can disguise from tbs Japanese citizen the fact that his military machine has failed him in his greatest hour of need,” added General Mac Arthur. “In this lies the basis for hope that the Japanese citizen will cease his idolatrous worship of the military caste and readjust his thoughts along more rational lines. “Failure of the military machine may mark for him the beginning of a new and ultimately a happier era. His hour of decision is close at hand/’* General Mac Arthur said that the Morotai position was secure and the Allied forces dominated the Moluccas. He rejoiced that this had been accomplished with so little loss.