Advance on Brunei Town

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24592, 14 June 1945, Page 5

Advance on Brunei Town

RESISTANCE STIFFENING (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 P‘ m> ) WASHINGTON, June 12. Japanese opposition on the mainland in British North Borneo is stiffening, but the Australians continue to make progress. On Labiian Island the Japanese are reported to be well dug in in the interior of the island. Casualties so far have been light. “Units of the'9th Australian Division have secured Maura Island, in Brunei Bay, and on Labuan Island have advanced two miles north of the airfield,” says a communique from General jfacArthur’s headquarters. “On the mainland, leading elements have driven two miles further towards the town of Brunei. Heavy and medium bombers and fighters, in support, have attacked enemy positions mid personnel areas. Light units on night patrol have attacked ,bort targets in Brunei Bay and Sandakan.” The position in the Brunei Bay area has been described by tbe Australian Commander (Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Mors head) as very satisfactory. He said the Japanese had withdrawn their main forces back into the hills, leaving only small rearguardß- - a message of congratulation to Lieutenant-General Morshead, General Mac Arthur said the initial operations of the Australians in Borneo were “flawless.”

A correspondent says hard fighting nn be expected, and the Australians JJu c ««d all the most modern equipntnt they have with them. Tie correspondent of the Associated Mft at Brunei Bay says hundreds of Mteiated civilians of many races, inTping Malays, Indians, and Chinese, ue Hocking to safety in the Allied San The Chinese said that the Japmmc had bred hatred of themselves u their ill-treatment of the people. *The campaign to win Borneo’s oil ud rubber is being conducted by the Juitralians, who have done a good bit d the most difficult and costly fighting

h'the Pacific, but they have not revived their share of the credit,” says ft “New York Herald-Tribune” in an idiiorial. "The Australians are colourful, valiUt warriors, but in recent months they have been in action in areas vhere there have been few correspondents, and they have been strug|Hng to clean the Japanese out of ifcongpoints by-passed by General Hy Arthur in New Guinea. This job, hr behind the American spearheads CD Okinawa and Iwo Jima, has been I bloody affair, but it has had little Ittotion. Now that the Australians live a spearhead of their own it is lojed that their achievements will ipin have the recognition they so well tewve.”