AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1945, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS

In New Guinea (Rec. 10.25.) MELBOURNE, April 27. Maprik, a key Japanese base in the Torricelli Mountains of Northern New Guinea, has been captured by Australian troops. The enemy have thus lost one of their most valuable pivotal positions, since from Maprik tracks radiate north through the mountains to the coast and south to the Sepik River. The Australians success culminated a week’s bitter; fighting along strategic approaches to the base. Separate infantry spearheads rushed desperate Japanese resistance from strong entrenched positions. The capture of Maprik gives the Australians another, emergency air strip and control of a Government administrative centre. In their advance on Maprik, the Australians had to contend with difficult country. BOUGAINVILLE OPERATIONS. BOUGAINVILLE, April 25. In the current, operations in Bougainville. Australian forces are meet-. ing stiffening Japanese resistance, as their northern and southern drives cut deeper into vital enemy areas. Lean, tough Australians are probing toward the Hongorai River in the south, which guards the key areas of Buin Kahili, and the enemy larder, consisting of innumerable gardens and crops which, are not yet harvested. Indicating tire importance of the drive, the Japanese are contesting every keypoint with utmost determination. Their blocking tactics are based on systems of pillboxes and bombers, making grim jungle fighting even grimmer. On Tuesday, requests for close supporting strikes sent the New Zealanders scrambling on their waiting Corsairs, and in a brief time they were roaring over the heads of the Australian troops to deliver savage attacks on Japanese strongpoints and concentrations. United States Marine Mitchells and R.N.Z.A.F. Venturas smacked 25 tons of bombs into the Japanese troops and supply areas.