INVASION FORCES BEING HELD

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 210, 2 June 1944, Page 5

INVASION FORCES BEING HELD

Grim Battle On Biak JAPANESE SNIPERS WELL DUG IN

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received June 1, 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY. Jftne 1. What may prove to be one of the grimmest battles of the Pacific war is being fought on Biak Island, in Dutch New Guinea. In the first four days’ fighting, the enemy garrison has lost at least 67!) counted dead. Further strong Japanese counter-attacks followed Monday's tank engagement, but these were smashed by withering American tire. American tanks suffered some casualties.

War correspondents on Biak Island report that the enemy garrisou is fighting with a ferocity characteristic of the early Pacific campaigns. The American advance is now consolidated at Parai, 2000 yards from the Mokmer airstrip and 5000 cards from Bosnek, where the first assault troops landed. The Americans , have not yet attempted any further full- > scale drive. They will first have to clear 1 out snipers harassing their coastal supply ’ road. This will be a difficult task since I the Japanese are firmly entrenched along • a timbered limestone ridge rising to 250 i feet. Honeycombing the ridge are huni dreds of caverns and fox-holes in which ' Japanese armed with machineguns and mortars have dug themselves. Bad Weather Grounds Planes. Bad weather on Tuesday grounded both Allied and enemy aircraft, _ but Allied naval guns and shore artillery have pounded the Japanese lines. Scattered enemy pockets of resistance are being cleared out by American patrols while the main Japanese offensive activity now comprises mortar fire on our forward positions. One American battalion earlier penetrated to within 1000 yards of Mokmer airfield, but was almost destroyed by the Japanese defenders and forced to withdraw to join up with the main American forces. The crews of 10 Buffaloes, amphibious armoured fighting vehicles, ran the gauntlet of heavy Japanese artillery and mortar fire. to ferry ammunition to the beleaguered battalion, thus enabling the establishment of a defence perimeter till withdrawal became possible under cover of darkness. The grim Japanese resistance which has held tbe American invasion forces static for some days probably is symptomatic of what may be expected as the Allied offensive drives deeper into Japan's conquered empire, some war correspondents suggest. At Maffin Bay, 200 miles east of Biak Island, guerrilla parties of Japanese made unsuccessful attacks against American lines of communication. Several enemy forces each numbering from 30 to 50 men were engaged.