PACIFIC OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1943, Page 5

PACIFIC OFFENSIVE

MUNDA AND MUBO . CLOSING IN ON JAPS. (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, July 15. No change is reported to-day in the land position either in New Georgia or New Guinea. To-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters gives stoking evidence of continued Allied air superiority over the entire South-west Pacific battle zone. Our aircraft were active over nine enemy-occu-pied areas and Japanese air activity was virtually at a standstill. When three enemv dive-bombers were intercepted by Kittyhawks near Salamaua, all were shot down. The mam Allied offensive air activity yesterday was directed aeainst Japanese aerodromes in the Northern Solomons. 1 War correspondents m the Central Solomons report that American troops are steadily infiltrating through the outer perimeter of the Japanese defences at Munda, where the beleaguered enemy garrison is facing annihilation. Meanwhile, Munda’s companion air base of Vila, on Kolombangara Island, is being softened up by Allied bombing attacks. The fall of Munda would enable the Americans to mount artillery on the New Georgian coast to shell Vila, which is only six miles away across the Kula Gulf —just as Munda is now being shelled across Blanche Channel from Rendova. “The probability is that the Japanese will leave Munda to the fate that is steadily overtaking it, and make their last stand m the New Georgia group on Kolombangara. writes an Australian war correspondent. “There is evidence that the enemy is pushing reinforcements into Vila, but no evidence that they are trying to reinforce Munda from Vila.” " Reporting operations in the Solomons area, General MacArthur’s communique to-day says:— Bougainville Island. —In the Buka area our heavy units bombed the aerodrome after dark with unobserved results. In the Buin area our heavy bombers attacks the Kahili and Ballale aerodromes at night. The fires at Ballale were visible for 50 miles. Kolimbangara Island. —At Blackett Strait our medium units, escorted by fighters, attacked and destroyed two large enemy barges in Hunda Cove during the ‘'morning. Vella Lavella Island. —Our medium bombers attacked and destroyed a small enemy cargo vessel in Osagle Channel. . General MacArthur s Headquarters, in a special announcement to--night, said: “Our troops are closing in on the Mubo bastion of the Salamaua line for decisive action. GROUND AND DEVELOPMENTS (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, July 16. The Australian and American troops are preparing for an attack against the Japanese, defences at Mubo. Northern New Guinea: A special announcement from General MacArthur's headquarters indicates that the operations, directed at the capture o£ Salama.ua, the important enemy supply base in New Guinea mandated territory, are now reaching the crucial stage. Mubo is eleven miles inland and is the main outpost defence of Salamaua. In this area. Allied forces have encircled the Japanese positions in Pimple and Woody islands, which is a mud flat on the dry bed of Buigap creek. . By swift outflanking moves, our troops cut off the Mubo garrison from their lines of retreat. Greenshill, another important Japanese post, just northeast of Mubo has already fallen to our advancing forces. Only seven and a-half miles from Salamaua the isthmus village of SaJus has been taken by Americans moving up the coast after their landing at Nassau Bay on .Tune 30. The Australians who penerated the jungle from the Mubo area to reach Nassau Bay have guided other American forces inland. They dragged artillery along jungle trails from the beachhead and last Sunday linked up with Australian infantry near Mubo. This move cut the enemy’s Buigap creek supply line. Simultaneously, our patrols have been harassing the enemy’s alternative supply trail, through Komiatum, which has threatened by the Australian capture of Observation Hill. While these moves' against his supply line have been progressing, the enemy's forces in the Mubo area have been steadily compressed into two main strongpoints on high ground. These positions have been punished by some of the heaviest air attacks of the New Guinea war. This incessant aerial pounding has been directed towards softening up Japanese, resistance to the final Allied ground assault which has now begun. Attacks are being launched simultaneously from north, east and south. Gen. MacArthur’s communique, yesterday, made no reference to ground activity, cither in New Guinea or New Georgia. Correspondents report that the delay of news of Allied progress in New Guinea is due to the fact that our forces are occupied not .in large-scale attacks, but in clearing out' enemy strongpoints, and establishing our own outposts in dominating positions. These objectives are now achieved. Artillery is in position ready to support infantry forces in the final advance. Reports from the Solomons say the Americans are employing tanks to batter the Japanese defences of strategic airfields in Munda. Tanks cover the advancing infantry, who are beginning the laborious process of digging thee nemy troops out of their foxholes. KTSKA BOMBARDED. RUGBY, July 15. Japanese positions at Gertrude Cove, Kiska. were bombarded again early yesterday morning by a United States light surface unit, states a communique. The enemy guns did not reply.