TARAKAN HILL STORMED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 May 1945, Page 7

TARAKAN HILL STORMED

MAIN RESISTANCE OVERCOME. 'WASHINGTON, May 7. “Australian 9th Division troops have stormed and captured Taraknn Hill, the Japanese fortress in tlio centre of the island's main town,” says General AlacArtliur’s communique.

“Assisted by Dutch East Indies forces, the Australians blasted the Japanese from their strong defences with tanks, .flame-throwers and demolitions. Wide enveloping movements through difficult country eliminated enemy positions adjacent to Tarakan airfield.

“The repair of the captured runway is now in progress. The Japanese have lined the ijjrip with land mines and booby traps, giving the engineers and construction units a difficult and hazardous task. The main Japanese resistance on Tarakan Island lias now been overcome and the invasion troops must track the enemy remnants to their lairs in the hills and annihilate them.

The Associated Press correspondent says the Japanese softened the airfield by diverting water and clogging drainage system, but the Australians expect it to' be ready for fighting soon.

“During the past week 11,028 enemy dead have boon counted and 462 taken prisoner in tho Philippines,’’ says General MacArtliur’s communique. “Our casualties were 391 killed and 1323 wounded.”

“Heavy units of the British Pacific Elect, including battleships and cruisers on Friday bombarded enemy airfields at Hirnra and Bobara on Miynko Island in the Sakishimas, causing considerable damage,” says Admiral Nimitz in a communique. “Carrier aircraft attacked enemy airfields on Friday and Saturday, destroying 15 aircraft in tho air and three on the ground and damaging four on the ground. A major unit of the task force suffered some damage during an airattack but resumed operations.” An invention of Dr Julian Smith, a well-known Melbourne doctor, enabling blood transfusions to bo given at a much faster rate than is possible by the ordinary drop method has saved a number of Australian lives on Tarakan.

DEATH EOR HIROHITO CHUNGKING, May 7. “The deaths of Hitler and Mussolini,” says the China Daily News, “call for the death of Hiroliito as the chief war criminal in the Far East. China cannot pai*don Hiroliito and the civilised human beings of the world cannot, he lenient with him. He should be tried and executed and his body should bo |mt on display on the Sun Vat-sen road at Nanking.” The Daily News says the Japanese war criminals and their associates must bo' severely punished without mercy to fulfil tho expectations of all’ peace-loving peoples.