PACIFIC CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1944, Page 5

PACIFIC CAMPAIGN

MR. STIMSON’S REVIEW

JAPS. QUITTING NEW GUINEA (Rec. noon) WASHINGTON, January 20.

Mr. Stimson, at a Press conference, When asked if General MacArthur would be retired on January 26, when he reaches the retiring age, replied definitely no. Mr. Stimson, reviewing the war operations, told the Press conference: “There are indications that the Japanese resistance is collapsing in Northern New Guinea. With, the Australians advancing bevdnd Vincke Point, and AustralianAmerican troops squeezing the Japanese forces in the vicinity ol Saidor, the indications are that the Japanese are trying to escape in barges by night. Several troopladen barges have been sunk by our aircraft when trying ,to escape, and by light naval vessels. In New Britain, Allied troops are constantly enlarging the beachheads in the Cape Gloucester area. Thirty-one hundred Japanese dead have been counted, against our losses of 228 killed and 649 wounded. The Japanese, apparently, are reinforcing their strength in this area, and becoming more aggressive in the air.’ Nevertheless, we have shot down scores of Japanese planes.” NEW GUINEA OPERATIONS.

SYDNEY, January 20

Australian troops in New Guinea are consolidating their holo on the Sio area on Huon Peninsula. Activity is limited to patrolling. Thunderbolts shot down two Japanese fighters over Wewak. A Liberator damaegd an enemy cargo ship 40 miles north-west of the Japanese base. A Lightning fighter was lost while strafing an enemy machine-gun nest at Madang.

RAID ON CAROLINES

NEW YORK. January 19. The attack on Kusaie marks the first American raid in the Carolines, says the United Press Pearl Harbour correspondent. Kusaie is 750 miles south-east of Truk. It is believed to be an important staging base for Japanese fighters and bombers now reinforcing the Marshalls Islands position. The raid is considered significant, since it carried Admiral Nirmtz s offensive hundreds of miles westward.