MADANG DRIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 86, 8 October 1943, Page 5

MADANG DRIVE

AUSTRALIAN PROGRESS

THREAT TO PENINSULA

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.)

SYDNEY, October 7.

Australian troops driving down the Rama River valley in New Guinea have advanced rapidly and are now at Dumpu. This represents an advance of seven miles from Kaigulun, the occupation of which was reported yesterday. Dumpu is 42 air miles from Kaiapit, the first village occupied by the Australians in their drive up the Markham Valley, which runs into the Eamu Valley. The occupation of Dumpu brings the Australians within about 20 air miles of the end of the motor road built by the Japanese south from Bogadjim to Madang, one of their principal bases on the north New Guinea coast. The Japanese are withdrawing before our swift drive and the Australians are . meeting with little opposition. A war correspondent in the area suggests that the Allied advance now threatens to cat off the entire Huon Peninsula. As Dumpu had a' civil aerodrome before its occupation by the Japanese, this village may become a forward base for Allied air operations against Madang, about 60 miles away, and other enemy keypoints in north-western New Guinea. The Japanese showed considerable interest in this area before the Allied seizure of Salamaua, Lae, and Finschhafen. MUCH AIR ACTIVITY. y Today's communique from General MacArthur's headquarters, reporting the occupation of Dumpu, also gives details of widespread air activity in which Allied planes blasted enemy installations and supply lines. Round Bogadjim Liberators and Flying Fortresses extensively damaged roads and bridges. Round Saidor, Mitchell medium bombers swept the coastal belt, bombing and strafing Japaneseoccupied villages and destroying or damaging eight barges. Catalinas and Liberators concentrated on targets at the western end of Dutch New Guinea, where they created havoc in the waterfront areas of Kokas, Bira, and Manokwari. North of Kavieng, New Ireland, a Liberator on reconnaissance bombed an enemy light cruiser with unobserved result?. Close aerial attention to the Japanese bases on New Britain has seriously restricted the use of their scattered airfields in the area. Though damaged airstrips are put back into speedy service, it is likely that the Japanese for some weeks have been able to make little use of Cape Gloucester or Gasmata. From the Solomons comes reports indicating that the Japanese continue to evacuate Kulambangra Island.