PAPUA’S CHANGED ROLE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 306, 21 September 1943, Page 5

PAPUA’S CHANGED ROLE

Defence To Offence

INFLUENCE OF AIR POWER

(By Telegraph. —Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received September 20, 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 20.

Allied troops are scouring the area north of Lae for remnants of the Japanese garrison trying to escape to the foothills. Some Japanese, loaded down with rations, lugged behind the small escape parties, and were quickly rounded up. Meanwhile the work of clearing up the captured enemy base is proceeding apace. Large quantities of naval and military equipment and hundreds of drums of oil are reported to have been captured. Some of the prepared Japanese positions were so unhygienic as to be almost plague spots. The worst were destroyed and the others cleaned out. According to a Chinese carpenter who was picked up in the bush by the Australians, fever was widespread in the Lne area, and dead were carried out daily from the barracks and hideouts.

An Australian war correspondent says that New Guinea has changed, during the past three months from a defensive base to an offensive hopping-off region, whence our rapidly-growing might can be hurled at the enemy almost wherever and whenever we choose. Nine months ago we had only a few airstrips in the whole of Papua. Today, the entire area is patterned with airfields, dispersed to provide an aerial overlay, and each having multiple landing strips. Just as important is the flow of aircraft and lighting equipment into tlie area to establish pools at strategic points all over New Guinea. In this we have been assisted tremen'dously by our expanding sea control. But the most, spectacular aspect of supply and general ground development has been the vital part played by the Troop Carrier Command and its flying box cars, which ferry hack and forth in swarms to discharge hundreds of tons of equipment and supplies. Tribute to Troops. A glowing tribute to the ground forces in New Guinea was paid by General MacArthur in a special statement reviewing the Lae-Salamaua campaign. “The conduct of the ground troops was splendid beyond words.” said General MacArthur. “The Australian contingent included two of the A.l.F.’s most, famous divisions, which added new lustre to their colours. These are magnificent troops, unsurpassed iu the world. Newer Australian troops also covered themselves with distinction.

“The American contingent of ground troops was much smaller than our Australian comrades, but performed equally well. The paratroop unit was especially notable. Naval units performed their difficult and dangerous task most admirably. No -amphibious force could have excelled them. The superb work of the American and Australian airmen has already been noted by me. The skill of all commanders was of high order.” Japanese airfields at the southern end of Bougainville Island, in the Central Solomons, arc being relentlessly attacked by Admiral Halsey’s bombers. In a raid on Ballale aerodrome on Saturday by escorted torpedo and dive-bombers. GO Japanese fighters attempted interception and 14 were shot down. Four Allied fighters and two bombers were lost, but two pilots were saved. The raiders attacked Ballale gun positions, revetments, supply, and bivouac areas, scoring many direct hits and causing fires. Allied medium bombers also made three surprise night raids on Kahili -and Ballale aerodromes.. Two planes are missing from these attacks. An enemy fighter was shot down over Vella Lavella Island by our air patrols. These air operations are reported in General MacArthur's latest communique, ■ln the iSouth-west Pacific area, Allied naval patrol craft in Vitiaz .Strait, between New Guinea and New Britain, sank two troop-laden barges off Blucher Point and strafed buildings on Rooke and Ritter Islands. General MaoArthut’s bombers and fighters attacked enemy shipping installations, bivouac areas, and supply dumps over a wide area. Reconnaissance planes destroyed a 1200-tou enemy cargo vessel at Hansa Bay, New Guinea. In the Finsehhafcn area of New Guinea, heavy, medium, and attack planes struck at: enemy installations and bivouac areas with 10 tons of bombs, and also made numerous strafing passes. Off Cape St. George, New Ireland, reconnaissance units damaged two JOOO-ton Japanese freighters, and a small cargo vessel east, of Kavieng was sot on fire. Our long-range fighters strafed enemy small shipping, supply dumps, and buildings at King Bay. New Britain. The Darwin area of Australia was raided 'before dawn Iby nine Japanese planes, which dropped bombs near Fenton, causing neither damage nor casualties.

Malahang aerodrome, near Salamaua, is now in use by the Allied air forces, and Lae aerodrome is rapidly being restored for use.