NEW GUINEA OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 September 1943, Page 5

NEW GUINEA OFFENSIVE

LANDING NEAR FINSCHHAFEN STRONG BEACHHEAD HELD SYDNEY, September 23. Australian troops with naval and air support have landed six miles north of the Japanese base at Finschhafen, on the Huon peninsula, in New Guinea. The landing was made at dawn on Tuesday, on a sandy beach south of the Song river, where a strong beachhead has been established. Japanese troops are reported to have opposed, the landing, but no details are yet available. To-day’s communique from General MacArthur, announcing the landing, also reports an attempted attack the previous evening by enemy bombers*on Allied shipping off Hopoi, on the Huon Gulf. This shipping was probably part of the convoy bound for Finschhafen. Allied fighters dived on the enemy formation, destroying four bombers and probably a fifth, and five of the escorting fighters. One of our aeroplanes was lost, The capture of Finschhafen would strengthehn Allied control of the vital Vitiaz Strait, between the Huon Peninsula and the southern tip of New Britain. The importance of Finschhafen lies mainly in its deep water harbour. With a coastal belt of flat grassland, the whole area is reported to be easy to traverse. The airfield two miles north of Finschhafen was last reported to be unserviceable. It has been used by the Japanese in the. past, though never extensively. The communique also reports that the Australian airborne troops who captured Kaiapit, which is in the upper Markham Valley, about 80 miles from Madang, routed an attack by a Japanese patrol 200 strong. After losing 120 the remainder of the enemy force fleet. Japanese communications south of their base at Madang, on the northeast coast of New Guinea, were again heavily attacked by General MacArthur's escorted bombers, which encountered no enemy air opposition. Forty-six bombing and strafing passes were carried out and four more bridges were destroyed or seriously damaged. A jetty was wrecked and bivouacs and supply installations were heavily bombed and strafed. Allied heavy bombers without loss blasted the aerodrome dispersal areas at Capt Gloucester, on the western end of New Britain. A bomb load of 66 tons was well concentrated on the target. On the south coast of New Britain, the Gasmata airfield was raided at dawn by medium and attack bombers.

Allied heavy bombers on reconnaissance over the Bismarck Sea sank a 1500-ton freighter north of Garove Island. In the Solomons Sea a 5000-ton enemy merchantman was bombed and set on fire. IN THE~SOLOMONS SYDNEY, September 23. United States ground forces in the Solomons have destroyed the remaining Japanese forces on the notch shores of Arundel Island, between Kolombangara and New Georgia. Enemy troops on the nearby island of Sakakarasa have also been mopped up. Artillery on Kolombangara Island heavily shelled the American positions on Arundel Island, causing light casualties. Allied positions on Guadalcanal were again raided by the Japanese air force. Six aeroplanes made bombing and strafing attacks, causing minor damage. During recent operations the transport and cargo ship John Penn, after landing passengers and cargo at forward destinations, was bombed and fsunlt by the enemy while returning ,to Guadalcanal. Allied light naval craft on night patrol off Vella Lavella Island shot down an attacking enemy float-plane. JAP. BASES ATTACKED GILBERT ISLANDS RAIDS PEARL HARBOUR, Sept. 22.

Detailing the results of the raids at the week-end on the Gilbert Islands, Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet, disclosed that a carrier task force, in collaboration with land-based Army and Navy Dombers, damaged four Japanese bases, losing only four fighters in spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire and attempted interception by enemy fighters. The raiders made more than 200 sorties against Tarawa Island, Makin Island, Apamama Island, and Nauru Island during Saturday night ana Sunday. A communique lists the damage as follows: —

Tarawa. — Aerodrome facilities heavily damaged, eight bombers destroyed on the runway, one small vessel sunk.

Makin. —Air base damaged, three four-engined seaplanes and a patrol aeroplane destroyed. Apamama.— Camp installations heavily hit. Nauru.—lnstallations damaged.

In addition to destroying aircraft on the ground, our forces shot down six Zeros, probably shot down four others, and damaged eight fighters. They also shot down two medium bombers. The Pearl Harbour correspondent of the “New York Times” says: “The communique indicates that the Japanese have considerably enlarged their central Pacific bases since the last American operations more than a year ago. It is also inferred that the Japanese in the Marshalls and Gilberts now face constant bombardment from American aerodromes established in islands within flying range. It is regarded as significant that a carrier task force could venture boldly into these waters, which were heretofore considered enemy controlled. The Army bombers participating probably took off from Funafuti, which was used on the previous raids against Tarawa. The aeroplanes bombing Nauru may have come from Guadalcanal. The entire operation is taken as an indication that Admiral Nimitz is.prepared to blast the Japanese from the central Pacific and push them back to Truk, in conjunction with General MacArthur’s forces. Such an accomplishment would leave the Allied supply lines from Hawaii to New Zealand and Australia free from any threat except from submarines,’at the same time confining the Japanese to a shortened inner defence perimeter. “THINGS TO COME.” (Rec, 10.55) NEW YORK, Sept. 23. The recent attacks against the Marcus and Gilbert Islands are only the shape of things to come, said Admiral King, addressing the American Legion Convention. He added that the Navy aim is shattering blows against the enemy with all the weapons that can be brought to bear, synchronised and co-ordinated with overwhelming assault. He emphasised the importance of the Navy’s, swiftly growing airarm, now striking hard against enemy bases, particularly in the Pacific. PACIFIC COMMAND. NEW YORK, Sept. 22. “General MacArthur’s statement puzzles military and naval circles in Washington,” reports the Washington correspondent of the Associated Press of America. “Reliable sources

insist that it does not fit any known situation regarding the assignment of commands, such as Lord Louis Mountbatten for Burma ' or General Marshall for Allied generalissimo. At the same time the authorities profess no knowledge of changes in the relationship between the naval command in the south and central Pacific areas and General MacArthur’s command in the South-west Pacific. They say that the basic strategy of the Pacific war remains unchanged.” The New York “Herald-Tribune” comments: ■ “General MacArthur chose, designedly or by accident, a singularly inappropriate moment for a statement on Pacific strategy. The injection of a cryptic pronouncement into the gossiping chatter about General Marshall is unlikely to help much, either towards proper organisation of the Allied High Command or the smooth allocation ri of force among the several war theatres.’ The “New York Times” says: “If General Marshall becomes world generalissimo, surely the British Empire is entitled to appoint a commander of Asiatic operations based in India. Lord Louis Mountbattens appointment does not raise the question of General MacArthur’s subordination, since the distances in the East are so great that operations must be split into several commands. Only when the final stage of an invasion of Japan from China and Korea has been reached will the question of a supreme commander in East Asia become pertinent.” • CAPTIVE AUSTRALIANS CANBERRA, Sept. 23. No news has yet been obtained by the Commonwealth Government of 5127 officers and men of the A.l.r. who have been reported as missing in military operations against the Japanese. In announcing this to-day, the Army Minister, Mr. Forde, said: “It is now known that 18,156 Australian soldiers are held as prisoners oi war by Japanese. Every endeavour is being made to obtain information about men reported as missing.” • 26 JAP. PLANES LOST. LONDON, Sept. 22. A Chungking messags says General Stilwell’s communique states that 30 Japanese bombers, escorted by' fighters, yesterday attacked the 14th Air Force installations. Fifteen bombers and two Zeros were shot down and seven bombers and two fighters were probably destroyed. TOJO’S GRAVE WARNING LONDON, Sept. 23. According to a warning given by the Japanese Prime Minister, General Tojo, Japan’s general position is grave. General Tojo said: “The British and the Americans are attempting, regardless of their own high losses, to force the Japanese Empire to its knees by fresh offensives. Heavy battles are progressing, and other battles are expected. All classes of the Japanese people must realise the seriousness of the position, both at home and abroad, and also recognise die difficulties of their tasks. The whole strength of the nation must be concentrated upon the production of armaments, and especially that of aircraft. The mobilisation of the nation’s manpower must be completed. The employment of women must be extended. Taxation must be increased.

“Japan, with Manchukuo, must be made independent of imported food supplies. Plans must also be worked out, immediately, for the strengthening of the defence of the Japanese motherland. All administrative measures which are not essential for production tor war at this decisive stage must be eliminated. The Saturday half-holiday will be abolished and the Government offices will work on Sundays and on week-days, and work all day and all night. Our air defences. particularly in the industrial zones,, must be expanded, and preparations made for the transferring of the Government and industries, and for the shifting of sections of the population from Tokio and elsewhere i.n the interests of the national defence.

A message from Chungking says martial law has been imposed in Hankow because of numerous clashes between Japanese soldiers and the Chinese puppet police. The Dome! News Agency stated that Formosa’s inhabitants have been made liable lo compulsory military service.