ANOTHER LANDING

Grey River Argus, 24 September 1943, Page 5

ANOTHER LANDING

BY AUSTRALIANS In New Guinea ■ • OPPOSED BY ENEMY TROOPS. NORTH OF FINSCHHAFEN. (Rec. 10.10) SYDNEY, Sept. 23. Australian troops, with naval and air support, have landed six miles north of the Japanese base of 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. There a strong beachhead has been es-. tablished. It is reported that Japanese troops have opposed the landing. lhere are no details yet available. To-day’s communique from General MacArthur announced the landin-. It also reports tnat on Monday evening enemy bombers attempted an attack on Allied shipping off Hopoi, on Huon Gulf. This was, probably, an attack on part of the convoy that was bound for Finschhafen. Allied lighters dived on the enemy formation, destroying four bombers, and probably a fifth, and five of the escorting lighters. One of the Allied planes was l°The capture of Finschhafen would strengthen Allied control of the vital Vitiaz Strait, 'between Huon Peninsula and the southern tip of New Britain Island. 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, lhe airfield two miles north of Finschaien was last reported unsrvicable. It has been used by the Japanese m the past, though never extensively. To-days communique also reports that the Australian airborne troops who captured Kaiapit in the Upper Markham Valiev. Nev/ Guinea, routed later an attack by a Japanese patrol two hundred strong. After losing J 20 killed, the remainder of the enemy force fled. Japanese communications south ot their base at Madang, on the northeast coast of New Guinea, were again heavilv attacked by MacArthur’s escorted bombers, which encountered no enemy air opposition. Forty-six bombing and strafing _ passes were carried out. Four bridges were destroyed, or seriously damaged. A jetitv wa's wrecked, and bivouacs and supply installations were heavily bombed and strafed. Raids in New Britain (Rec. 10.30) SDYNEY, Sept. 23. Allied heavy bombers, without loss, blasted .aerodrome dispersal areas at Cape Gloucester on the western end of New Britain Island. 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 Bismarck Sea, sank a 1500-ton freighter north of Garove Island. In the Solomons Sea a 5000ton enemy merchantman was bombed and set on fire.