NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1943, Page 5

NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

JAP. RETREAT CONTINUED CASUALTIES HEAVY (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, October 17. The Japanese continue to fight determined rearguard actions as they retreat down the Ramu Valley towards Madang. . General MacArthur’s Headquarters has announced that the Australians have killed 407 Japanese since they began their drive from Kaiapit on September 21. To delay the Australian advance, the Japanese have blown up bridges across tributaries of the Ramu River. Patrol clashes are occurring in foothills rising from the beds of the Uria and Faria Rivers, north and northwest of Dumpu, which the Austra-; lians captured more than a week ago. Dumpu is only 50 air miles from Madang, now the most advanced Japanese base in New .Guinea. Our troops continue to make progress. Allied fighters in direct support of the ground forces have strafed the Japanese forward area. Continuing their attacks on the enemy’s coastal supply route, Allied medium bombers dropped 35 tons of bombs and thoroughly strafed enemy-occupied villages from Sio to Saidor. Hemmed in on three sides of a rugged mountain top, an Australian force last Thursday killed nearly 100 Japanese in one of the fiercest skirmishes of the Ramu campaign m North-eastern New Guinea. The Australians were outnumbered, and at the end of the day, when the Japanese were finally repulsed, their carefully rationed ammunition was almost exhausted. Grenade duels were fought at 20 yards ’ range. Enemy casualties, apart from those killed, are believed to have been heavy. The Japanese carried off their wounded when they witharew at night to the 6000 ft Finister Range, which runs parallel to the New Guinea coast. „ < Allied air forces m the South-west Pacific have followed up their smashing attack on Rabaul by smallerscale assaults on other enemy airfields and bases throughout the South-west Pacific area. General MacArthur’s communique on Saturday reported bombing and strafing attacks at 12 points from New Ireland to Timor. To-day’s communique reports raids on five widely dispersed objectives.

■ JAPS. LOSE 104 MORE PLANES The 8.8. C. announced this afternoon that 104 Japanese planes had been shot down over New Guinea for the loss of only two Allied aircraft. It was stated that 82 of the enemy planes were shot down, and that 12 were destroyed on the ground. N.Z. CAPTURE" OF BARGE [Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.] ADVANCED PACIFIC BASE, Oct. 4. The capture of a large Japanese barge and the killing of its entire personnel of 13 was one of the first exploits of the New Zealanders when they met the enemy in the Pacific. The barge was apparently used for carrying men, munitions, and rations to isolated Japanese garrisons in the Northern Solomons. A patrol from a combat team commanded by a former Wellington Staff Corps officer now serving with the N.Z.E.F. sighted a party of Japanese in. a north-western bay of the island on which the New Zealanders were operating. This party was busy cutting and camouflaging the entrance lo a mangrove swamp large enough to accommodate a fairly big craft, 'rhe investigating force discovered a 60ft barge cunningly concealed and well armed with machineguns at the bow and stern. The barge also was heavily sandbaggeu on the top and at the sides of the bridge.

'The New Zealanders split into three parties, one to cover the barge Jrom a distance, one to capture the craft, and the third to cut off the enemy personnel who were seen moving on shore towards a native village. The barge boarding party encountered no opposition and manned the enemy guns. The outflanking party chasing 10 Japanese was interrupted by fire from a Japaneseocupied canoe in the centre of the bay. However, the main Japanese parly became alarmed and took to the water where all were killed. The occupants of the canoe reached the shore, but later were surrounded at the base of a rtee and all were killed after a short exchange of fire. The barge was later towed to hearquarters. MAKIN ISLAND BOMBED PEARL HARBOUR, October 16. United States land-based Navy Liberators made a light bombing attack on Makin Island on Wednesday without loss. CONTROL OF AIR BASES. RUGBY, October 15. The former Australian Prime Minister, Mr. R. G, Menzies, broadcasting to-day, referred to reported statements by five American Senator's about Pacific air bases. He said that nobody could believe more heartly than himself in Anglo-Ameri-can co-operation, but that did not mean that Australia, New Zealand, and Britain had not their own proper and vital flying interests in the South-west Pacific and the Pacific generally. We shall not lightly abandon these interests. We shall at all times be ready to make arrangements of a reciprocal kind with our great ally across the Pacific, but when we go into a partnership we want to come in as a strong, well-equipped member and not a weak one.” MR. DRAKEFORD’S VIEWS. SYDNEY, October 17. Australia’s viewS on the importance of post-war civil aviation have been emphasised by the Commonwealth Minister for Air, Mr. Drakeford. He said that after the war Australia should have control over her internal air services and those in adjacent territories. Australia’s policy was to establish the most satisfactory relationship with the British Commonwealth without denying other nations the right of access to operate beneficial services to Australia.

Mr. Drakeford disclosed that the linking of a chain of aerodromes 150 to 300 miles apart is planned in Australia. Mr. Drakeford said: “Australia has rights which we will not give away, and certain intentions which cannot be disclosed at present.” He added that Britain was lagging in post-war aviation, but her bases in all parts of the world would give her an advantage.