PRESSURE INCREASING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 258, 29 September 1943, Page 5

PRESSURE INCREASING

THREAT TO FINSCHHAFEN. SYDNEY, Sept. 28. Advanced elements of the Australian force attacking Finschliafen (New Guinea) from the south are reported to be closing in on the Japanese positions on the ridges overlooking the town. These troops have moved inland to outflank the Japanese positions guarding the approach from the south, which are now threatened from the rear. The enemy is still resisting stubbornly from strong defence positions in the Bunn River area, but increasing land and air pressure is being brought to bear on him. To-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s Headquarters makes no mention of the Allied force advancing from Lae to close tho trap on Finschhafen. It was reported yesterday to have reached • Hanisch Harbour, 2o miles south-west of Finschhafen.

In the Markham Valley area Australians have pushed up the Ynti River and occupied Sakerak, eight miles north-west of the enemy outpost at Kaiapit, which was captured a week ago. This force is steadily squeezing Japanese outposts into tho naiTOW confines of the New Guinea seaboard. WEWAK AIRFIELDS BOMBED. Tho aerodromes at Wewak, the enemy base on tho north toast of New Guinea, received another heavy pounding on Sunday from our Liberator bombers, which dropped 33 tons of explosives on supply and dispersal areas, starting fires which wero visible 30 miles away. At Dagua bombs scored direct hits on six parked aircraft. Lightnings shot down three of 20 Japanese fighters which attempted to intercept the bombers. In a raid on Hansa Bay, between Wewak and Madang, Liberators effectively concentrated 28 tone of bombs in supply and . bivouac areas at the Nubi and Potsdam plantations, starting many fires. All our planes returned from these raids. There was little air activity in the Solomons on Sunday. Allied aircraft on reconnaissance) off Choiscul Island bombed and etrafed three small coastal vessels, one of which was left sinking. Enemy planes bombed a small Allied vessel off the coast of Vella I.avella Island, causing damage and casualties.