Stranglehold Tightens on Japanese at Lae

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 221, 17 September 1943, Page 5

Stranglehold Tightens on Japanese at Lae

Widespread Havoc From Air Attacks (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Thursday, 9.30 p.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 17. Further advances by the Allied forces have tightened the net aroimd the Japanese base at Lae in the Huon Gulf area of New Guinea. The spearhead of the Australian force attacking from the northeast has penetrated to within two miles of the heart of the town while the main body has reached a point a little over a quarter of a mile from the southern end of the Malahang airstrip. The crossing over the Busu river is still being shelled by the Japanese and Australian 25-pounders are blasting enemy gun positions and defences. Allied troops operating in the Markham Valley on the west of Lae have captured centres of resistance at Heath’s and Vernon’s and are now approaching the plantation “fortress” five miles from Lae. Our medium air units are clearing the way for them by bombing and strafing the valley road. These important new gains in the battle for Lae are reported in General Mar. Arthur’s latest communique. Since the western force started its advance down the Markham Valley after being landed by air at Nadzab, it has killed or wounded 300 Japanese and suffered only light casualties itself. The force has already overcome three of the enemy ’8 chain of defensive positions in the plantations strung out along the valley, all on a similar pattern with barbed wire enclosed gunpits, dugouts and foxholes commanding the cleared plantation areas. The first “fortress” captured was at Whittaker’s, where the Japanese resir.t ed for almost a day. Artillery helped the Australians to drive out the enemy, who left 100 dead. While this action was going on, a second force pushed ahead and took Heath’s plantatiou after slight resistance. This force wai then astride of the Japanese line ol retreat from Whittaker’s, compelling the enemy to make for the hills. Vein on’s plantation was also overcome after weak opposition and our troops are now nearing Edwards’ plantation, Are miles from the enemy base. In raids and air battles in the Central Solomons on Tuesday, Admiral Halaey'S bombers and fighters destroyed 26 Japanese planes and a further eight were either destroyed or damaged. Only three of our lighters were lost in these successful operations reported in General MacArthur’s latest communique. The enemy suffered his heaviest losses when Allied heavy bombers, protected by a strong tighter force, bombed the Kahili aerodrome (Bougainville Island) dispersal areas and shore installations. Sixteen grounded aircraft were destroy ed and many fires started. A force ol 27 Japanese fighters intercepted weakly ! and seven were shot down. The aerodrome revetments, bivouacs and antiaircraft positions were attacked at dusk by Allied fighters which destroyed or damaged eight planes on the ground and set fire to a barge off shore. Over Vella Lavella Island, Halsey’s fighters intercepted and shot down three of 15 enemy fighters. A search plane scouting off Kieta Island heavily damaged a Japanese destroyer. A direct bit on the bridge was accompanied by % heavy explosion. Torpedo bombers attacked enemy gun positions at Bambari harbour (Kolombangara Island), scoring many direct hits. The Japanese base at Vila was twice attacked by heavy bombers. MacArthur’s medium bombers, without interception, carried out two successful sweeps in the Hansa Bay area (New Guinea), bombing and strafing enemy coastal shipping and shore installations. At Hansa Bay, concentrations totalling 30 barges were attacked and the majority destroyed’ or seriously damaged. Warehouses at Angor&m and Marienberg were demolished and machinegun positions silenced. Antiaircraft positions at Awar Point were also silenced. A night attack was made on Ambon and the Halong seaplane base at Amboina Island in the northwestern sector. Southwest Pacific raiders seriously damaged two floatplanes and a flyingboat and started numerous fires in the shore installations.