JAPANESE ROUT AT LAE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 305, 20 September 1943, Page 4

JAPANESE ROUT AT LAE

Garrison’s Fate Sealed

MOPPING UP NOW PROCEEDING

ißr Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received September 19, 8.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 19.

Lae, the main Japanese base for ground forces in New Guinea, was captured with little opixisition on Thursday by Austialian troops, after Allied bombers had turned it into a shambles. Mopping up operations are now proceeding. The first Australians to enter Lae were airborne troops landed 11 days earlier in Markham Valley, 23 miles from the town. They reached the enemy base a few hours before the force driving from the east after landing* in the lluon Gulf on iSeptember 4. , , Only a handful of Japanese were found among the ruins of the base. Scattered elements of the enemy garrison are heuuing for the foothills of the Atzera Ranges, but their fate is sealed, as strong A.1.1’. patrols and American paratroops are waiting for them on the mountain trails. ’ General MacArthur, in a special message, said: ‘The Lae victory, accomplished in face of superior forces available to the enemy, represents *1 serious blow to him. With God’s help we are making our wav back.’ , Next to the Americans capture or Guadalca ial in the Solomons, where the original garrison was estimated at 40.UUU, the Japanese Lac-Salamaua garrison is the biggest cleaned out in the Pacific war. Tiie garrison’s strength was first estimated at 20,000, but later General Blarney said that the estimate had been “pruned.” 'The Japanese deathroll at Lae has not been compiled, but nearly 1000 killed in the fighting around the base have been counted. Jungle Campaign Record.

The advance of the Australians from Nadzab, in the Markham Valley, to Lae, set a record for speed in the jungle campaigning of New Guinea, says the. Australian war correspondent. Beginning on September 7, these men forged ahead in a running tight down the valley, sweeping aside the enemy's well-selected defence zones to reach Lae on Thursday morning, after a nine days’ march. They killed at least 500 Japanese, and suffered only light casualties themselves. •Scores of twisted, shattered enemy aircraft were found around the dispersal areas of the airfield at Lae. The runway was only slightly damaged, and can be put in use immediately. Four wounded Japanese found in a church used as a hospital pointed to their heads and indicated they wished to be shot. Among equipment found were American rifles and ammunition captured in the Philippines.

AIR BATTLE RAGES

Mastery Of Solomons Area

(Received ISen+ember JO, 9.40 p.m.) ISiY'D'NIEY. IScptemiber 19. Allied air forces in the central Solomons are maintaining day and night attacks on Japanese aerodromes in the BuinsFaisi area at the south end of Bougainville Island. Jn an attempt to interfere with the offensive, the Japanese are throwing in large formations of fighters. 30 of which have been shot down by Allied 1 planes in two days’ air operations in the area for the loss of six Allied aircraft. At least 'another eight Japanese planes have 'been destroyed on this ground. e General 'MacArthur's communique reports that strong forces of Allied 'bombers in all categories on Thursday made day and night raids on enemy aerodromes at Ballale. Kahili and’ Kara. Runways, dispersal areas and repair and supply depots were heavily bombed and strafed, and explosions and' fires were caused all over the target areas. Two grounded aircraft were destroyed and ■ many others probably hit. Nearly JOO Japanese fighters challenged the raiders and' 16 were shot down for the loss of three Allied planes. Giving the enemy no respite, our 'bombers with fighter escort again heavily pounded' the aerodromes in the BttinFaisi area on Friday. Direct bits were seen to destroy motor and at least six grounded aircraft. Of 50 fighters which attempted interception, Allied fighters shot down 14 for the loss of three. A force of between 40 and 60 Japanese planes on 'Thursday night bombed Allied positions at Munda and Barakoma on Vella Lavella Island, causing minor damage and casualties. Further minor damage was done in three enemy , raids on Munda on Friday night. Anti-air-craft fire shot down one raider. An Allied large naval craft destroyed five enemy barges oft the north coast of Vel'a Lavella. A South Pacific correspondent says the Japanese air command is strongly reinforcing the Solomons and New Britain in an attempt, to counter the Allies’ mounting air offensive. This will mean a heavy drain on the enemy’s limited resources. The strong fighter opposition encountered iby our aircraft attacking aerodromes on Bougainville suggests that the Japanese are possibly using secret airfields constructed in the 350 miles of forest and (bush plains on the island. Kara airfield," mentioned in General MacArthur’s communique for the first time, is a secretly .built'field just made operative. It lie's seven miles north-east of Kahili. It is also clear that in spite of hundreds of tons of bombs dropped on the Kahili and Ballale airfields, they are still in operation. 'Since launching the Solomons offensive on August 7, illklfi, up to last Tuesday Admiral Halsey’s navy and aircraft and General Harmon’s army planes have destroyed 2T86 Japanese aircraft. American troops have repulsed a Japanese attack on Arundel Island, between the .New Georgia anti Kolotnbangara Islands in the 'Solomons. The Japanese 'made the attack after several hundred' troops succeeded at night in reinforcing the enemy garrison, holding the north-eastern corner of the island.