AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1945, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

, OPERATIONAL REVIEW. > i Further important gams have been made in the South-west Pacific theatre of operations by Australian troops supported by tanks and heavy ; air bombardments. In northern New’ Guinea hard-hitting advances car-1 ried our forces to within 14 miles of: Wewak while, in southern Bougainville, Australian infantry after a period of clearing out tenacious en-; emy pockets, resumed their offensive towards the Japanese defences on 1 Hongobai River. ( An important phase ot some weeks, of bitter fighting in difficult country' south of the Torricelli Mountains of ( New Guinea wAs the capture of the key Japanese base of Maprik which lies 60 miles south-east of Aitape. By this a strategic base has been gained for further operations in the area and patrols continue to push eastwards. In New Britain minor contact only was made with the Japanese who now seem to be holding Jammer Bay along the coast from Wide Bay, in some strength. Tanks which have not been used in this area for some time supported the Australian Forces in their speedy advance along the northern New Guinea coast. By the capture of Boiken the enemy were denied the use of a valuable inland track across the mountains which lead through Maprik south to Sepik. Tanks and artillery supported another vigorous drive 3,000 yards further to within 14 miles west of Wewak. In this last advance some more villages were captured including Kalimboae and Welubi, where our forward troops are consolidating. This eastward thrust is gaining rapid momentum with strong support from artillery, air and naval bombardment of enemy strong points, gun positions and dump areas further eastward along the coast at Wewak as well as on the islands of Kairiru and Muschu off Wewak. Considerable quantities of valuable equipment have been abandoned by the Japanese. South of Karawop, at the foot of the Mokin Mountain a dump was found containing 14 heavy machine-guns, two light ma-chine-guns and over one hundred rifles. A heavy mortar which had caused several casualties to the Australian forward patrols was captured in the Karawop Plantation and a workshop was taken east of Wisling. The Australian attacks against Wewak in northern New Guinea suddenly increased in tempo. In three days’ bombardment over 300 tons of bombs were dropped by heavy, medium and fighter aircraft on gun emplacements and enemy positions. Boram Point and Wewak Point were attacked by 71 bombers and lighters and large fires were started. Maprik was a strongly defended Japanese base and its capture rendered untenable to the enemy all bases west ot Screw River and south to Wora. Tracks leading from Maprik to the south and north are now controlled. Tn the campaign which closed with the fall of Maprik the Australian troops battering through incredibly tough country have demonstrated again their superiority over the Japanese in a type ’of warfare which calls for the utmost endurance and determination. It has not been, sc far, a spectacular campaign highlighted with battles between large forces. On the other hand it has been one of continual patrol clashes, of ambush and counter ambush, of bitter skirmishes and tierce engagements for the control of river crossings and track junctions through the mountainous Torricellis, and for the sharp ridges where the Japanese invariably sited machine-guns. The front at times extended to 10,000 yards and the enemy, pushed from ridge to ridge as our drive on Maprik closed in, resisted fiercely and at times fanatically. Although pounded from the air and harassed ceaselessly by lire from our heavy mortars, the Japanese had to be forced from every position by our infantry. Maprik was in pre-war days an administrative and goldmining centre. It is actually a group of villages and it is believed that there will be suitable ground for the construction of an air strip to ease the supply position which has been a major problem in fighting through the mountains. Infantry, with native labour, are already clearing and draining one More than 800 square miles of territory and hundreds of villages formerly controlled by the Japanese have been liberated by two separate forces of Australian troops who took over from the Americans on their former perimeter on the Driniumor River east of Aitape five months ago. In the Hongorai River area of southern Bougainville, Australian infantry supported by artillery and tanks again launched an offensive after a heavy air assault on the Japanese defences and further gains were made south-east along the important Buin Road. Along a lateral track running to the north-east oth- ] er advances, were made. The Japanese continue to resist with unabated fury from pillboxes and foxholes the first of which has been blasted out by our tanks. Japanese scouting parties, however, continue to infiltrate behind our lines and one party ambushed a jeep and another attacked the crew of a tractor at work. On both sides, artillery has been pouring thousands of rounds a day into large and small targets. The jungle has been converted into bedlam by the roar of Matilda tanks backing up the infantry and the rattle of bulldozers pushing along a threetonner highway close behind. The biggest concentrations of 25 pounder guns and Long Toms ever used by the Australians against the Japanese are in action. Up to a thousand rounds are put down on Japanese positions encountered in infantry patrols while tanks dig out the enemy left behind after the close of the artillery barrages. The latest report is that Rumiki which is north of the Buin Road and only 1,000 yards from the Hongorai River, has been cleared. In the central sector of Bougainville, sharp and bitter clashes have occurred while in the north the Japanese continue to shell our positions in the Sorake Peninsula. Australian infantry have now cleared a track running north-east to a point about half-way to Poro Poro. In the Wide Bay area of New Bri-. tain the Japanese are proving elusive. Since Tol Plantation has been occupied they have adopted hit and i tin tactics and emerge from their hideouts for brief skirmishes only. At. the moment the Japanese appear content to remain in their _ strongholds within the Gazelle Peninsula.