NEW GUINEA CONTACT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1943, Page 5

NEW GUINEA CONTACT

AREA CONSOLIDATED

(Special P.A. Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, July 4i

in the operations near Salamaua,! Japanese planes made light raids on Allied ground positions following the joining of the Australian and American forces. Earlier the Australians captured and consolidated the area at the month of the south arm of the nearby Bitoi River. Some Japanese ,'orces remain in this sector. The Australians, who have now helped to form the western New Guinea prong of the large-scale combined operations on the Pacific front, include veterans from the Middle East. They came from Lababia Ridge, near Mubo, where the defence recently inflicted heavy casualties on Japanese troops who were endeavouring to capture the ridge. : The newest operations have helped considerably to tighten the Allied grip on-Nassau Bay,- and our forces in the area have now reached a point from which they cari see the enemy base of Salamaua, about 12 miles away. The Japanese troops who retreated before the Australians mpving down towards Nassau Bay from Mubo, six miles inland,'are believed to have comprised a patrol screen to stronger forces, and their aim was to prevent contact between the Australians and Americans. Xlashes have also occurred between Australian and Japanese patrols in the area about one and a half milesnorthwest of Komiatum. The recent raids by-Australian ground forces have' not been mere sporadic "nuisance" sorties, but are described as small-scale but significant killings. Recently Australian patrols have penetrated to within three miles of Salamaua. Other Australian forces have occupied a, series of spurs and ridges dominating the Komiatum trail, which links Salamauaand Mubo. Supporting all these movements, the Allied air forces are hammering at Salamaua. ■ The consolidation of our island positions off the New Guinea coast has not been interfered with by air action.