Land and Air Attacks Continue

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 50, 1 March 1943, Page 5

Land and Air Attacks Continue

Progress of New Guinea Fighting

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Sunday, 9.15 p.m. SYDNEY, Feb. 28.

More than 650 oupauese stragglers have been Killed anu t 6 taaeu prisoner in tho Buna area during xeoruary, as an aftermath, of the Papuan campaign, inis information indicating the extent of mopping-up operations mill proceeding, is released by General Mac Arthur's communique to-day. Other New Guinea successes by Allied ground forces are reported from the ivlubo area where Australian patrols have again driven tho Japanese back from their forward positions. In their hasty retreat the enemy left behind many dead. Allied air activity has also switched mainly to the New Guinea zone after having concentrated on New Britain and the Northern Solomons area during most of February. Rabaul had 22 attacks by heavy bombers during the month, ranging from harassing raids by single planes to a four-wave attack by more than 30 Fortresses and Liberators on February 14. The Buin-Faisi area was raided 10 times during February by bombers of General Mac Arthur’s command. To-day’s communique reports air reconnaissance only in this sector.

Newak and Lac (New Guinea) and Gasmata (New Britain) have been the main targets for Allied air attacks In the past 48 hours. Fortresses and Liberators on Friday dropped 10 tons of bombs on the runways and dispersal areas of Gasmata aerodrome. At Newak, which had not been bombed for more than three weeks, Fortresses caught enemy aircraft on tho ground and destroyed or damaged several. A direct hit with 5001 b. bombs was scored on a 5000-ton ship in the harbour although two of the attacking plane’s engines were put out of action by antiaircraft fire, the Fortress making the hit came safely home. Three other small enemy vessels each of 1000 tons or less, were damaged by near misses off Cape Powell, west of Open Bay, New Britain. Fortresses and Mitchell medium bombers have kept up a daily air offensive against Lae. The raids have been heavy but the damage to the enemy’s main New Guinea base is not reported. Havoc attack planes continue their low level sweeps in support of the Australian ground forces near Mubo.