FIRM FOOTING ON MOROTAI

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24366, 19 September 1944, Page 5

FIRM FOOTING ON MOROTAI

Halmahera Invasion "ONLY NEGLIGIBLE OPPOSITION" (Special Australian Corretp.. N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11.30 p-m.) - STONSy, »»£•«; * The American invaders of Morotai Island, in the Halmaher* Group, have achieved their immediate ., They have advanced well «T hold a strong perimeter forward orme proposed aerodrome and naval base sites. Reinforcements aKstiDsteffli' ing ashore, and only negligible enemy opposition is reported. . _, m The Japanese position in the Halmaheras is considered hopeless. Eleven miles of sea separate the Americans on Morotai from the Japanese forces concentrated on the mam Halmahera Island. With the fleet of barges now. hidden at Halmahera, enemy troops may essay a night crossing of the narrow water passage in order to get to grips with the Americans, but with sea blockade already operating the venture would prove costly. Meanwhile, the work of preparing a new Allied base for intensified air blows against the Philippines is proceeding towards completion, and the field will be available soon for closerange air support for the invading , forces. A Japanese broadcast stating that the enemy is evacuating Mindanao, the most southerly of the Philippine Islands, is not regarded seriously at General Mac Arthur's headquarters. Heavy anti-aircraft fire has been encountered by Allied aeroplanes raiding Mindanao during the last few days. The landing on Halmahera was the fourteenth amphibious move carried through for General Mac Arthur by Vice-Admiral Daniel Barbey and his 7lh United States Amphibious Fleet. A measure of Japanese impotence in the area is the immunity with which the. great convoy passed within eight miles i of Mai, Halmahera Island, and'close to ! other Islands possessing once-threaten-ing airfields now shorn of their strength. United States bombers are 1 still occupied mainly in keeping these fields neutralised, and a bombload of 210 tons was rained on Halmahera air> * fields yesterday; ; Other south-west Pacific air patrols ' attacked shipping in the Celebes »d \ Bands Sea areas, sinking a -SOOfetoir; freighter and a 1500-ton ship, as well .' as a number .of smaller, craft,,No , further attacks have bee&.reported on the lower Philippines, where the Japa-. nese have many airfields, from which • to oppose the advancing Allied forces* ■ War observers believe that both in'the ~* air and oh the sea the enemy's reaction ~ to the latest Allied moves will. - a test of capacity than of wiipgfgnfcse - \ ito risk whatever power he *.' ,