A.I.F. DIVISION IN BORNEO

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24591, 13 June 1945, Page 7

A.I.F. DIVISION IN BORNEO

SIGNIFICANCE OF NEW CAMPAIGN HEAVY BLOWS STRUCK AT ENEMY (Special Australian Corresp., N-Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 12. By its landing m north-western Borneo, the Australians see their famous A.I.F. 9th Division *as having struck a heavy blow for the shortening of the Pacific war. Not only will the freeing of Borneo deprive Japan of one of her last rich sources of oil supply, but it alsts offers a springboard for attacks on ’the Japanese garrisons of Siam, Malaya, and Java. Already these enemy forces are under pressure from the British in Burma, while they have been largely cut off from supplies and reinforcements by the American air and submarine blockade imposed from Philippines bases. “All the Australians welcome the A.l.F.’s new landing, particularly as it offers possibilities for mounting an attack on Malaya and Singapore, where 18,000 men of the A.I.F. Bth Division were taken prisoner in February, 1942,” says the “Sydney Morning Herald," in a leading article. The Sydney “Daily Telegraph" comments: “This strategical action presages the time when Australian and British troops may again join hands triumphantly in the area where they were humbled three years ago. Australians rega-d the Borneo landings as the most important Pacific offensive action in which their troops have taken part, providing an important link in uniting the American front against Japan, centred on the Philippines and the British front now thrusting forward from Burma. “Once used by the Japanese as a refuelling depot for ships and aircraft, the Brunei Bay area is expected to become a base from which the Allies will be able to apply a find! clamp to the tightening China Sea blockade. Whatever naval forces and merchant shipping the Japanese may have retained around Malaya and Java will be completely bottled up." The A.I.F. 9th Division, which has spear-headed the Allied campaign in Borneo at Tarakan, where it landed on May 1. and at Brunei Bay. comprises veteran fighters oi both th® Middle East and New Guinea. The division formed part of the Tobruk garrison during the Germans seven months’ siege of that Libyan fortress. It was prominent in . the ?th Axmys break through at Alamein in October, 1942, leading to the German retreat from Egypt. In March, 1943. the division returned to Australia from the Middle East, and later fought in New Guinea. CHINESE CLOSE ON LIUCHOW CHUNGKING, June 11. Front line reports received by the Chinese News Agency state that on the central Kwangsi front Chinese forces are closing in on Liuchow. One unit from the north has reached a point 12 miles south of Yunghsien. Other Chinese forces have captured Tatang, 30 miles south-west of Liuchow. Another report says that Chinese units from north of the HunanKwangsi railway are advancing towards Yining.