CONQUERED SALAMAUA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1943, Page 5

CONQUERED SALAMAUA

ALLIED GAINS IN NEW GUINEA (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

SYDNEY, September 15. The Australian troops who occupied Salamaua found the whole area a shambles as the result of heavy bombing and shelling:. The isthmus and peninsula were pitted with huge craters from thousands of tons of bombs dropped there in the past month. Japanese gun crews were entombed in craters, in foxholes, and in uprooted pill-boxes.

No official estimate has yet been made of the Japanese casualties in the Battle of Salamaua, but the number of prisoners is believed to be very small. The survivors of the garrison, retreating along the coast towards Lac, are being given no chance to dig in to fight delaying rearguard actions. The Japanese probably hope to reach Schneider Point, the barge staging point along the route to Lac, but it is unlikely that they will be able to muster sufficient barges and air cover to make an escape. General Blarney said the capture of Salamaua was the climax to a very fine series of operations by an American regiment and Australian troops.

The Japanese in the Lac area show reluctance to engage in any large-scale operation. An Allied patrol in Heath's plantation and the Markham Valley killed eight Japanese and wounded 11 others in a brief clash.

CHANGED CONDITIONS

Conditions in the Markham Valley show a marked contrast to those in the drives against Buna and Gona six months ago. Then, fever-worn troops faced strongly-entrenched enemy units with only the arms they carried. Now, airborne troops, operating over flat country, are seeking out the enemy confident that they have ample supplies and weapons.

Australian troops advancing on Lac from the east have destroyed two Japanese strong-points and captured New Yanga. They are now within a mile of Malahang aerodrome, an important enemy strong-point about three miles from their base.

A duel is being fought between Australian and Japanese artillery, Allied forces pushing along the Markham Valley road threw the Japanese from two prepared positions near Whittaker's.

Co-operating with the ground forces, medium bombers attacked enemy installations along the south bank of the Markham River. A raid by 12 Japanese bombers on Allied installations near the Burep River caused minor damage and casualties. In the Salamaua area small scattered groups of Japanese are fleeing into .the'hills and jungle many miles north of Salamaua itself. Their eventful annihilation is certain.