AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1943, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN ADVANCE

Stiff Opposition [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 8.50) SYDNEY, Dec. 14. Supported by 28-ton Matilda tanks, Australian troops are advancing rapidly up the coast of the Huon Peninsula in New Guinea. They are moving against stiff Japanese opposition. They have crossed the Sowi River. They ar e now nearing at important enemy barge base of Lakona. This represents an .advance of about five miles from Bonga, which fell to Australians on November 28. After crossing the Sowi River, the Australian forces encountered stubborn enemy resistance. They compelled the Japanese forces to withdraw, and some enemy equipment was captured. In the inland sector, an Australian column advancing northwards from Wareo is maintaining pressure on Japanese rearguards. Ramu Valley PATROL CLASHES JAP AIR RAIDERS REPULSED. (Rec. 9.10) SYDNEY, Dec. 14. Further patrol clashes have been reported in the Ramu Valley, New Guinea, where there is an Australian forc e thrusting against Japanese positions in the foothills of the Finisterre Range at the northern end of the valley. Increased air activity has been reported over the valley, where th e Australian force is endeavouring to throw Japanese out of strong defensive positions in the foothills. The air war in this sectoi’ has quickened during the past fortyeight hours. Nine Japanese bombers, escorted by fifteen Zeros, attempted to attack Australian positions at Gusap, which is about sixty miles south of the big Japanese coastal base of Madang. The Japanese were intercepted by Allied fighter patrols. The' enemy lost two bombers and one fighter shot down, and a second fighter was probably, destroyed. ALLIED AIR RAIDS (Rec. 8.30) SYDNEY, Dec. 14. General MacArthur’s communique to-day reports widespread Allied air attacks ranging from the Arafura Sea to the Solomons. Nearly one hundred of Admiral Halsey’s aircraft dropped 54 tons of bombs on a Japanese base, J'akohina, in the ißuin area of Bougainville Island. Nine buildings were destroyed when Kittyhawks bombed and strafed the Arigua Mission, near Kieta. Bomb-carrying Kittyhawks attacked Japanese bases in western New Britain Island. They concentrated principally on the aerodrome at Gasmata, where, in spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire, they .accomplished their mission without loss. No enemy fighter opposition was encountered. Many 5001 b. bombs smashed runways and dispersal points. Japs’ Air Power DEPLETED ON BOUGAINVILLE. (Rec. 11.40.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. The U.S.A. Air Force in the Solomons, resumed the offensive against Japanese supply areas on Bougainville last Saturday, with 175 sorties. It was discovered that the enemy had failed to rebuild any of the airfields which heavy raids 'had kept inoperative since last October. This was reported by a United Press correspondent at Admiral Halsey’s Headquarters, who adds: “Officials had refused to speculate on the reas.on, but observers believe that a threat"of new American blows, plus depleted Japanese air power, has caused the enemy to hold his ’planes in reserve. , An American spokesman revealed that a destroyer bombarded the Jaba River mouth, south-east of the Allied positions in .Empress Augusta Bay, where the Japanese have undoubtedly moved in supplies under cover of recent bad weather.