ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 39, 14 January 1944, Page 5

ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE

SMASHED BY SEA AND AIR. JAPANESE BARGES SUNK. SYDNEY, Jan. 13. Japanese attempts to escape by sea from the Allied trap in the SaidorHuon Peninsula area of New Guinea are being smashed by our sea and air forces. The volume of enemy barge 'traffic reported by to-day's communique is accepted as the .first clear indication of Japanese attempts to evacuate from their perilous position. :

In this area 23 barges are to-day reported sunk oi damaged Patrol torpedo-boats on Sunday night sank nine barges east of Saidor and severely damaged 11 others, many of them loaded with troops. Airacobras on night patrol destroyed one and damaged two barges along the coast. The Australians closing the southern binge of the coastal trap have reached Gneisenau Point within five miles _of Sio. Saidor, where the Americans are consolidating, lies a further 55 miles to the north-east.

Japanese opposition to tho Australian advance is expected along tho Kapugara River which runs inland from Gneisenau Point. The river is the largest in the area and has precipitous banks, which will assist the enemy defenders. Australian infantrymen are still closery supported by tanks, artillery, and mortars. ENEMY LOSSES MOUNT. Japanese losses at Capo Gloucester (New Britain) are still ..lonnting. The latest reports say that 300 more of the enemy have been killed in recent clashes, bringing the tctal enemy dead in this area to over 2400.

Fierce fighting continues in tho Borgen Bay sector where the marines are driving tho Japaneso back despite their desperate resistance. American artillery sank two barges bringing supplies- to the enemy at the bay while Allied air patrols sank an additional barge and set fire to three others. Tho heaviest air assault to-day was at Uligan harbour in North-east New Guinea where two bridges, numerous buildings and supply dumps were demolished and many fires started. Four luggers, 14 barges and many small craft were sunk or damaged.

Allied planes based on tho Solomons have kept up their attacks on Rabaul (New Britain), the township and Lukanai aerodrome being the targets for tho latest raid.