Air and Ground Superiority In Mubo Operations

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 161, 9 July 1943, Page 5

Air and Ground Superiority In Mubo Operations

(Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Thursday, 7.16 p.m. SYDNEY, July 8. The immediate object of the campaign being fought around the Japanese Northern New Guinea base of Sammaua seems to be the elimination ot the enemy forces now in danger of being bottled up in the nearby hinterland area of Mubo-Komiatum. Broken only by isolated skirmishes the deadlock in this sector has persisted since last February. The latest reports indicate that Allied strategy m making favourable progress. Australians in the Bobdubi area dominate the narrow valley through which passes the Komiatum track, now the supply route from Salamaua for the Japanese forces around Mubo. The Americans continue to consolidate their Nassau Bay positions and they are using artillery.

Compared with the numbers thrown into the engagements the Australian ana American forces have inflicted substantial casualties on the Japanese and they have forced the enemy entirely on the defensive.

But although the Japanese have made no determined offensive move heavier fighting is anticipated, strong forces garrison both Salamaua and Lae and Beyond these bases lie Madang aud Wewak, reservoirs from which the Japanese can draw powerful reinforcements. The movement of Buch forces would be considerably assisted by the use of barge 3 of which the Japanese have a considerable number parked in the waters of Labu Lagoon near Lae. For months this barge park has been under persistent Allied air attack “The enemy ’3 strength in barges is known to be a big menace,’’ writes an Australian war correspondent in New

| group. Three and possibly four enemy i light cruisers were then taken under fire and all were either sunk or set on fire within 16 minutes. One was Beached. Lator dui.ng the rescue of survivors from tile ligut cruiser Helena our destroyers intercepted and sank two of three enemy ships attempting to escape from the gulf and damaged the third.