NEW GUINEA FRONT

Grey River Argus, 8 January 1944, Page 5

NEW GUINEA FRONT

Japanese Attempt TO EVACUATE HUON PENINSULA. (Rec. 11.55.) SYDNEY, Jan. 7.i In Saidor, Northern New Guinea, when a beach-head was established by Americans last Sunday, patrols have made first contact with the enemy at Cape Iris. T’he Australians driving up the Huon Peninsula to make contact with the Americans at Saidor, about seventy miles distant, are now twelve air miles from Sio. an important enemy barge base. The fleeing Japanese troops are believed to be trying to reach Sio in an effort to evacuate the Huon Peninsula. All their land avenues of escape have been closed by Allied forces on the Huon Peninsula, at Saidor, and in the Ramu Valley. Madang, the Japanese supply base just fifty-five miles north-west of Saidor, and the nearby port of Alexishafen, have been hit with 243 tons of bombs. During the past fortnight that area has been the target for almost daily aerial attacks. Allied patrol boats have taken additional toll of enemy barge traffic along this coast.