ALLIES CLOSE IN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21153, 22 July 1943, Page 3

ALLIES CLOSE IN

ENEMY AT KOMIATUM U.S. COASTAL DRIVE DIFFICULT - TERRAIN (Special Australian Correspondent.) (10.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 22. Allied troops are steadily closing in on Komiatum, the Japanese supply base in New Guinea about five miles inland from Salamaua. General MacArthur's latest communique reports air attacks in support of our ground operations. The loss of Komiatum, which is the enemy’s main supply strong-point on the Salamaua-Mubo trail, would drastically compress the Japanese defence perimeter in the Salamaua area. Around Bobdubi, just north of Komiatum, enemy resistance has been firm, although some minor gains have been made by Australian troops. Bobdubi protects the rear of the Japanese positions at Komiatum. Meanwhile, American troops are making progress north along the coast from Nassau Bay. The passage along the narrow, swampy coastal strip is difficult and, as our forces move towards Tambu Bay, enemy resistance, possibly aided by large reinforcements from Salamaua and the rising country, may be expected to stiffen. Mount Tambu, in the area where recent fighting occurred, is a precipitous forest-covered razorback overlooking the Salamaua Isthmus Tambu is the native word meaning devil' infested or forbidden- —a name no doubt inspired by the difficult and treacherous nature of the terrain. Supporting general operations in New Guinea, General MacArthur's bombers have also been active over Salamaua and Madang. Nine Japanese bombers and 30 fighters attacked Benabena, inland from Madang, destroying native huts but causing no casualties.