HOLLANDIA PRIZE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 126, 27 April 1944, Page 2

HOLLANDIA PRIZE

AMERICANS DRAW NEAR. (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Rce. 12.00 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 27. The capture of the Hollandia airstrip, 17 miles west of Hollandia village, is reported to be imminent. This strip is the key airfield in the Humboldt Bay area. There is still no evidence, that the Japanese Command is contemplating a decisive stynd on the Allied lines of approach to the airfield. The Japanese are believed to have fled to mountain country to the north. The Hollandia airstrip is the largest of the three airfields in this area. American troops are pushing east from their invasion point at Tanahmera Bay and are closing on the outskirts of the strip. The. second American force, advancing from its landing point at Humboldt Bay, is pressing towards the other two airstrips—Sentani and Cyclops. Strong Japanese reaction from the west is still a big possibility.

General .MaeArthnr, in his communique announcing the Hollandia-Ail ape invasions, estimated .that 63.000 Japanese were trapjrod between Hollandia and Madang (the enemy base 280 miles south-east of Aitape). The southern claw of the great pincers movement closing on these Japanese is the Australian force which has seized Madang. TWO AIRFIELDS CAPTURED.

The American invasion forces at Jlollandia (Dutch New Guinea) have seized the Cyclops and Sentani airfields. The airfields were captured by assault troops who crossed Lake Sentani in an amphibious operation.'

Gencial MnrArlhur’s latest communique announcing this important success, makes no reference to Japanese resistance in the area. At Aitape all enemy opposition has ceased atnd the airfield is in full operation. Japanese torpedo planes attacked, invasion shipping without effect. At Geelvink Bay, 40G miles north-west of Hollandia, Allied planes destroyed 20 parked aircraft on the Kanni airfield and shot down three others in combat.