JAPS TRY TO RETREAT

Grey River Argus, 26 September 1944, Page 5

JAPS TRY TO RETREAT

FROM WEST PACIFIC ISLANDS Allied Blockade Tightened (Rec. 9.0) ' SYDNEY, Sept. 25. The Japanese appear to be _ attempting to save what they- can from their big Halmahera base, which has now been isolated and rendered impotent by the American invasion of Morotai Island. Allied patrol boats in these waters on Friday night sank five Japanese barges, which were loaded with oil and other supplies, and were headed to the northwest. The barges were evidentlytrying to reach the Philippines, or perhaps the Talaud .Islands, which are midway between Morotai , and Indano. The nature of their cargo leads to a belief that, in spite of their possession of rich oil bearing areas of Dutch East Indies, the Japanese, at some bases, are short of oil. Following last week’s ill-fated enemy attempts to evacuate men and stores from Halmahera, .an Allied blockade of the area has been tightened. On Saturday night Allied light naval vessels moved close in shore to strafe Japanese coastal defence positions on Halmahera. In the past three weeks targets in Celebes Island, about a hundred miles west of Halmahera, have been hit with 2200 tons of bombs. Airfields and shipping concentrations have been the principal objectives. During the week-end General MacArthur’s bombers maintained this offensive. They destroyed or seriously damaged fourteen barges and several small craft. No South-west Pacific Command aircraft are reported to have been over the Philippines, where heavy softening up blows are now being delivered by Admiral Halsey’s Third Fleet.