ON HUON PENINSULA

Grey River Argus, 14 December 1943, Page 5

ON HUON PENINSULA

Enemy Active in Ramu Valley [Aust. & N.Z. Press, Assn.] (Rec. 6.30) SYDNEY, Dec. 13. Australian forces are steadily driving Japanese forces from Huon Peninsula, in New Guinea. They have made further progress, as, advancing along the coast, one A.I.F. column has thrown enemy forces back from prepared positions in the difficult country of the Tunom River Valley. The Japanese abandoned more than 100 dead in this sector. Allied air craft and torpedo-boats are maintaining disruptive attacks against J'apanese barge communications and possible escape points on the northern coast of the peninsula. Sharp ground fighting continues in .Ramu Valley, New Guinea. Allied air patrols drove off 40 enemy fighters which attempted a dawn attack on the A.I.F. positions there. Australians Push Ahead ON HUON PENINSULA. I’.U (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 9.50) SYDNEY, Dec. 13. On the Huon Peninsula, Australian troops, in spite of torrential rains are steadily driving back Japanese forces. In the coastal sector the Australian forces have pushed one mile beyond the mouth of the Turnom River, which is three miles north of Bomga. After fierce fighting, they have cleared the Japanese out of strong hill positions which are well suited for defence. More than one hundred enemy dead have been counted in this area.

A second Australian force, in tne inland area of the Peninsula, is now one mile and a half beypnd Wareo. The Japanese are there lighting stubborn rearguard actions. American aircraft continue to give close support to the Australian ground forces. Mitchell bombers have attacked Japanese supply and bivouac areas .on the northern coast of the Peninsula' with twenty tons of explosive. They have also kept up their incessant pounding of enemy targets in Western New Britain. Japanese bases here have been under an unflagging aerial attack for the past three weeks. Australian Cavalry OPERATING IN NEW GUINEA. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 8.10) SYDNEY, Dec. 13. Australian horse cavalry are now in action in the Ramu Valley, in New Guinea. This is the first occasion on which horse cavalry have been used in the South-west Pacific area. Already! the Australian cavalrymen have had several clashes with the Japanese. They are being employed mainly for scouting and for reconnaissance in country that is well suited to mounted movement.