JAPANESE REPULSED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1944, Page 5

JAPANESE REPULSED

CAPE GLOUCESTER FIGHTING

(Special P.A. Correspondent.) ; SYDNEY. January 5. Land fighting again flared up at Cape Gloucester, in western New Britain, on Monday. The Japanese attacked the American beach-head' near Silimati Point, but were decisively repulsed, leaving 200 dead on the battlefield. This brings the known number of enemy killed at Cape Gloucester to 1500, and the total is believed to be much greater. ' ,

Western New Britain is the only sector of the South-west Pacific front in which the Japanese are at present offering measurable resistance" to the Allied ground forces. -The Americans who landed at Saidor, in northern New Guinea, on Sunday, have now enlarged their beach-head to an area of about ten square miles, and patrols are being pushed out in an endeavour to make contact with the enemy. %' A spectacular advance has been made by the Australian troops driving north along the coast of the Huon Peninsula. They have progressed ten miles in the past two days; and have now advanced 27 miles from Masaweng since December 12. Their advance proceeded on only eight days, the remainder of the time being employed in resting and consolidating. The Australians are now approaching the Cape King William area, about 80 air miles from Saidor. The Japanese are offering only token opposition. The main duty of their rearguard appears to be observation of the Australian advance.

In the Ramu Valley good roads capable of carrying heavy traffic have been built, replacing the native tracks which once wound their way through the kunai grass. This transformation has taken place since the Australians entered the valley early in September. The use of these roads will ease the Australians' supply problem and enable stronger, pressure to be exerted against the Japanese forces occupying positions in the Finisterre Ranges.