DRIVE INLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 3, 5 January 1944, Page 5

DRIVE INLAND

AMERICAN FORCE AT SAIDOR

(Special P.A. Correspondent.) Rec. 12.30 p.m. SYDNEY, January 5. The American troops which landed at Saidor, in New Guinea, on Sunday have already penetrated inland for more than two miles on a five-mile front. The artillery on the perimeter of their beachhead is shelling the Japanese positions.

The American, casualties have been five killed (including two sailors drowned) and four wounded. Only 11 enemy dead have been found, while two Japanese were taken prisoner. One had been severely wounded in the preliminary Allied aerial bombardment, while the other was discovered, unarmed and naked, hiding in a foxhole.

Everywhere evidence has been found of the effect of the surprise landing on the small Japanese garrison. In the mess quarters untouched bowls of rice were on the tables.

Bulldozers followed the infantry ashore at the landing, clearing a path for the tanks through the tangled jungle fringing the beaches. Field artillery was also brought ashore in the. early stages of the operation. Work has already been, begun re~ pairing and extending the Saidor aerodrome. A distance of 90 miles now separates the Americans at Saidor and the Australians advancing northwards on the Huon Peninsula. The Australians were last reported to be approaching Wald Bay, six miles north of Blucher Point.