ARAWE ADVANCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 97, 20 January 1944, Page 5

ARAWE ADVANCE

Fresh American Men Engaged MORE SHIPPING BOMBED

(Bv Telegraph. — Press Assn. Copyright.) (Received January 19, 10.10 P->n.)

January 19.

American troops, Including Red Indians, known as “ Businnasters, killed 139 Japanese in an attack on Sunday on enemy positions east of Arawe, on the southern coast of New Britain. Today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters reports dint the attack cleared an area of one thousand yards beyond the Americans’ perimeter on the .peninsula. Twentyeight machinegun nests were wiped out, and portion of a field battery captured. The Rod Indians, from the 158th Bushmasters Regiment, trained in the Panama jungle, were in the leading assault force. They were landed secretly at Arawe to support tlio Americans who won the original beach-head on December 15. Allied hir and sea units are harassing Japanese coastal traffic east of Arawe. Airocobras sank two small loaded boats in Marjie Bay, and patfol torpedo-boats destroyed three barges at Didi. A large force of R.A.A.F. Beauforts, Kittyhawks and Spitfires started fires in bivouac and supply areas at Gasmata, New Britain, on Monday morning. Liberators attacked a 9000-ton merchantman at Ambon Ha_rbour, Amboina Island, setting it on firei Three of eight intercepting Japanese fighters were shot down and one probably destroyed. Off the Admiralty Islands a 2000-ton Japanese freighter was left stationary and smoking by our air patrols. The heaviest Allied air raid on Momhiy was on’ the Hansa Bay, New Guinea, area. In two strikes Liberators find Mitchells bombed the Nubia airstrip, anti-aircraft positions and installations with 120 tons of bombs.

NEW BRITAIN ATTACK

Australian Warships’'Part

MELBOURNE, January 19. The Australian cruisers Australia and Shropshire and destroyers Arunta and Warramunga were part of the Allied naval screen for the American landing at Arawe and Cape Gloucester, according to an announcement by the Navy Minister, Mr. Makin. The Australian vessels were under the command of RearAdmiral Crutchley, who flew his flag in the cruiser Australia.

During the approach to the Caps Gloucester combat area the Australian ships swept ahead of the naval armada carrying troops, Mr. Makin said, but no contact was made with any enemy forces. At 6 a.m. on Boxing Day the guns of the cruiser Australia gave the signal for the outbreak of the most intensive naval 'bombardment yet carried out in *the (South-west Pacific. The Air Minister, Mr. Drakeford, said the R.A.A.F. made air force history by taking part in the landing at Arawe. He said they had gone into battle and performed their hazardous task satisfactorily. “WILL SMOKE THEM OUT”

PEARL HARBOUR, January 18. “The Japs are thoroughly entrenched in the island archipelagos remaining to them,” said Admiral Nimitz in a broadcast.

They are vicious and resourceful, but we will smoke them out at times and places chosen by ourselves. “The elements of American land, sea and air power are fused into a deadly and disciplined fighting team.”