AMERICAN SUCCESS

Grey River Argus, 5 July 1944, Page 5

AMERICAN SUCCESS

OFF DUTCH NEW GUINEA Landing on Noemfoor > Island AIRFIELD TAKEN BY SURPRISE. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) ■ (Rec. 8.30.) SYDNEY, July 4. American forces invaded Noemfooi Island, in Geelvink Bay, Western Dutch New Guinea, on Sunday morning. Their landing point was at, namiri on the north-west coast. This is One hundred miles west of the recent-ly-captured airfields on Biak Islana. Kamirl airfield has been captured. American troops went ashore througn raging surf over difficult coral reeis, but under cover of an intensive navas and air bombardment. The Japanese at Kamirl were taken by surprise. Their carefully-prepared defences were outflanked. The Japanese had evidently considered it impracticable for the Americans to come ashore at the chosen' landing point. The unexpectedness of this invasion move thus enabled the capture of the first strategic objective on Noemfoor Island Kamiri airfield, without a stiuggieThirty damaged ’planes were taken on the airfield. No Allied losses in naval, ground or air forces, were suffered in these operations. Australian and American warships bombarded the invasion targets beforehand, while Liberator planes dropped one hundred and fifty tons oi bombs. The first wave of American assault troops reached the beach by eight o’clock, and within two hours had captured Kamiri, one of three airfields on the island. Artillery as well as infantry units Have been landed. The Japanese garrison on Noemfoor is not thought to be large. The enemy troops who were killed were in good condition. They had new uniforms and new weapons. This is the fourth American landing operation in Dutch New Guinea. Hollandia was invaded on April 22, Wakde Island on May 17, and Biak Island on May 27. The main military importance of Noemfoor Island lies in its three existing airstrips, and sites which it offers for new constructions.

“The seizure of this base will give added breadth and depth to our air deployment and will further dislocate the enemy’s South Sea defences already shaken bv our previous advances,” says General MacArthur’s communique which announced the landing. After stubborn fighting, new gains have been made by American forces at Sarmi, in Dutch New Guinea, where an! invasion move coincided with that on Wakde Island. The Japanese garrison is holding grimly to Maffin airstrip. It is being hard pressed. In the Hollandia sector, known [Japanese losses have reached 5,339, including 765 prisoners. Japan’s Air Force U.S. WARNING. (Rec. 9.50) WASHINGTON, July 4. At a press conference General Arnold, U.S. Air Chief, promised that the Japanese Air Force would meet a fate similar to that of the Luftwaffe when Super Fortresses were able to get at Japan’s aircraft production centres. The Japanese were now able to replace their plane losses, but this would be changed when longrange bombing came into its own.