HUON PENINSULA CLEARED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 117, 12 February 1944, Page 7

HUON PENINSULA CLEARED

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright.! (Received February 11,11 P-m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 1 1. The re-occupation of the Huon Peninsula by Allied forces has been completed by the linking-up of the Australian forces advancing up the coast with the Americans who landed at baidor. The bulk of the Japanese force of 14,000 opposing them have been annihilated. They were trapped between the coastal forces, the Americans in the Saidor beach-head, and more Australians advancing up the Ramu Valley. . , , This marks the ending of the campaign which began with the landing near Finschhafen on September 9, 1943.

The Australians who linked with, the Americana had been Advancing up the Rai coast from Sio, and the meeting took place at Yagomai on Thursday. Yagomai is 1-1 miles south-east of Sai Dor. . , . Summing up the campaign, today s communique from General MacArthurs headquarters states: “This contact ends a relentless pursuit lasting many weeks, carried out by Australian troops and American engineers, over luO miles or the most difficult terrain. “It concludes the phase of the mw Guinea campaign initiated with the landing at Finschhafen. A Japanese reinforced division was trapped,'with its supply and communication lines cut, aud its ■way to the south blocked by almost impassable mountain ranges, add our forces in the Ramu Valley, and was gradually destroyed in its desperate efforts to break out to the west. Starvation and disease, as well as constant air bombardment and continuous attacks by light naval units, supplemented the work of our'*ground forces.” The Japanese in the Huon Peninsula made their last stand in force at Satelberg, 10 miles north-west of Finschhafen. Gatelberg fell on November 26. When the Americans landed at Saidor on January 2. the retreating Japanese were cut off. The Australians then started their coastal drive to exert pressure on the southern end of the trap, breaking enemy resistance wherever encountered. American Engineers’ Work. Though the greater part of the Australian advance has not been over difficult country, frequent streams cutting across the coastal track impeded progress. Between Sio and iSaidor alone. about 60 such streams had to be crossed. American engineers played an important part in the Australians’ rapid advance by bridging these streams so that supplies could be moved forward. 'The successful completion of the Huon Peninsula campaign has given the Allies control of 130 miles of coastline between Finschhafen and Saidor. This has enabled the building of advanced fighter bases fpr the protection of Allied bombers deep into Japanese-held territory. Some commentators expect the next/ull scale Japanese resistance to be met near ■Bogadjim, 56 air miles north-west of Saidor and 15 miles south of the big enemy base at.Madang. Bogadjim is the -supply centre and road-head for the enemy forces in the Finisterre Ranges and the Ramu Valley. These forces are being hardpressed by other Australians, who are now within 18 miles of Bogadjim. It has been suggested, too, that the Japanese are evacuating Madang, which once held, an enemy garrison of 15,000 troops. Air activity reported by today’s communique has been on a reduced scale in all sectors. Kittyhawks attacked the aerodrome, and jetty area at Alexishafen on Tuesday, leaving two parked enemy fighters, burning. . United States- Navy Catalinas destroyed 14 barges near Wewak.

The Lakunai aerodrome at Rabaul was raided by Solomons-based planes early on Tuesday. Fires were started. No interception or anti-aircraft fire was reported, ed.