ENEMY CUT OFF
BIG FORCES ISOLATED
CANBERRA, July 26.
A total of 140,000 Japanese remains in the South-west and South Pacific areas, according lo an official estimate by the Commonwealth Department of Information, based on details supplied by the services. The enemy forces Avhich. are distributed in iso-
strong-points. lated groups Avith little hope of escape are located in New Guinea (60,000), New Britain (50,000), Bougainville (20,000), and New Ireland (10,000). The department expresses the opinion that the offensive begun a year ago has secured to the Allies an arc of bases from which to launch the next great phase of operations aimed at the reconquest of the Philippines and the Netherlands East Indies, and the domination of the China Sea. The Japanese forces trapped in British New Guinea have recoiled from the American line on the Driniumor River east of Aitape and are apparently trying to reform their shattered units south of Aftta. Their rear areas have again been heavily attacked from the air. Reporting these developments, General MacArthur's communique today says that adverse weather has hampered air operations. HoAvever, in strikes north of Australia and along the New Guinea coast, 30 Japanese barges were destroyed or damaged and a 1000-ton vessel ivas forced aground at Halmaheira. '
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1944, Page 5
Word Count
208ENEMY CUT OFF Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1944, Page 5
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