TRIPLE DRIVE ON FINSCHHAFEN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 2, 28 September 1943, Page 5

TRIPLE DRIVE ON FINSCHHAFEN

Allies Moving Up From Lae STRONG DEFENCES (By Telegraph.—Press Assu. —Copyright.) September 27,10.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 27. Allied forces advancing from three sides are rapidly closing the trap on the Japanese garrison at Finschhafen in New Guinea. General MacArthur s communique today reveals for the first time that Allied forces are moving up from Lae to complete the encirclement of Finschhafen. Meeting-little opposition, they have reached Hanisch Harbour, on the Huon Gulf, about 30 miles round the coast from Finschhafen. One Australian force which landed six miles north of Finschhafen and pushed inland is now approaching Satelberg, about .10 miles north-west of the enemy base. Another Australian amphibious force has encountered sharp resistance round the Bumi River, less than a mile from the base.

It is now apparent that the Japanese have been building up defensive positions on the inner perimeter at Finschhafen and intend to make a stubborn stand. Coiiununications Blasted.

Inland in the area south of the enemy base at Madang, our heavy and medium bombers are causing havoc among lines of communications, installations and defences. In the Bogadjim area, about 20 miles south of Madang, u force of Liberators ou .Saturday attacked a recentlyconstructed motor road which has been the enemy’s feeder line for operations in the Raimi Valley. The bombers dropped 21 tons of explosives, wrecking bridges and causing a landslide which, with bomb craters, blocked the narrow mountain road just south of Bogadjim. Airacobras accompanied the Liberators and strafed a truck convoy at. minimum altitude. Other strong formations of Flying Fortresses and Mitchell bombers concentrated on Japanese positions in the Upper Ramu Valley and on the Marawasa Divide. They blasted defence positions and bivouac areas with 46 tons of bombs, ami.thoroughly strafed the targets with 84,090 rounds of ammunition. Many fires were started.

Raids In Solomons. Admiral Halsey’s heavy torpedo and dive-bombers, with a fighter escort, struck a heavy blow in the Kahili area at the southern end of Bougainville Island in the Solomons. Direct hits were scored on gun positions, buildings were destroyed, and fires started. A force of 60 Japanese fighters attempted to intercept, and nine were shot down, for the loss of two of our fighters. The Vila area, on Kolombangara Island, was twice raided by Allied bombers, which started fires and destroyed two barges at Riugi Cove. Fighters strafed and destroyed a small Japanese cargo vessel at Faisi Island, south of Bougainville, and two oil-laden barges off Choiseul island.

American forces mopping up Arundel Island have counted 345 enemy dead.

HEAVIEST SINCE BUNA

Fight For Finschhafen

SYDNEY, September 27. In the final drive on Finschhafen, the Australians are engaged in the heaviest fighting since the Buna campaign. The Japanese resistance is aimed at making the loss of Finschhafen as costly as possible to the Allies.

Shock troops broke through the core of the enemy defences at Bumi River three-quarters of a mile north of Finschhafen. Bridgeheads were held and enlarged to cover the crossing of the main foreeb.

Under the full weight of the Australian attack the Japanese are steadily falling back toward the township. Strong opposition is expected further on toward Langemark Bay, near Finschhafen anchorage, where the defenders have been feverishly working on trenches and snipers’ posts. , Enemy opposition at the Bumi Liver provided the first warning that the capture of the base would be difficult. In the Lae campaign the failure of the Japanese to make a stand at the outer defences on the Busu River foretold the collapse of the inner defences.