STILL ADVANCING

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1944, Page 2

STILL ADVANCING

ALLIES IN NEW GUINEA Widespread Bombing (Special to N.Z. Press Assn). (Rec. 7.30.) SYDNEY, May 14. Japanese killed in the HollandlaAitape sector. Northern New Guinea, now total 1,716, while the number captured Jias reached an unprecedented total of 354. This is easilv the highest tally of Japanese prisoners taken on any Pacific front. Patrols from the American forces who landed on Hollandia and Aitape on April 22. are continuing mopping up operations. A particularly high proportion of prisoners to those killed is reported by General MacArthur’s latest communique which says that pursuing enemy base and supply troops who fled inland after the Allied landings, have killed a further 101 and captured thirty of the Japanese remnants. Australian troops driving up the New Guinea coast are now thirty miles beyond Madang. having reached Megiar Plantation, five miles northwest of Cape Croiselles. No enemy opposition to the advance has been reported. AIR ASSAULTS ON JAP. STRONGHOLDS. (Rec. 7.30.) SYDNEY, May 14. The two main enemv air bases within striking distance of Hollandia, Wadke Island and Biak Island which is one hundred and ten miles west of Hollandia, was blasted in a devastating attack made bv Liberators and Mitchells last Thursday. Carrying a 150-ton bomb load, the raiders scored repeated hits on the airfield, antiaircraft batteries arid supply and defence areas. Last Sunday, Wakde was hiit with 295 tons of bombs in a 100-’plane attack. Further to the west other Liberators on Thursday and Friday, renewed t'heir assault on Mokmer aerodrome, on Biak Island, starting fires in dispersal areas, in four separate night and day raids. No Japanese fighter opposition was met, but Allied ’plane was shot down by antiaircraft fire, the crew being saved. On the south-west coast of Dutch New Guinea, Mitchells- bombed Wlssel Lakes sector and Timikia airfield. Small lake craft, a radio station and gun positions were destroyed. To the north of Australia other Japanese airfields on Timor, Buru and Amboina Islands have been targets for night bombing attacks. i An attack on Truk by South-west Pacific Liberators was made on Wednesday. It is now revealed as one of the heaviest vet launched from this area into the Carolines. Nerly a hundred tons of bombs were dropped on warehouses and towns hit at Dublon Island and on hangars and repair shops at Eten Island. Liberators fought a thirty-five-minute battle against thirty Japanese fighters. The air battle began over Truk atoll and continued for a hundred miles. Six enemv fighters were shot down and two more probably destroyed, while one Liberator was lost. Because the distance from the Solomons is too great for fighter escort, Liberators, attacking Truk, flv in close packed formation, representing a solid wall of fire to fighters approaching from any direction.