Leapfrog Advance in Dutch New Guinea

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 124, 29 May 1944, Page 5

Leapfrog Advance in Dutch New Guinea

Latest Advance Virtual End of Campaign ;By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian correspondent.) Received Sunday, 7.35 p.m. SYDNEY, May 28. American invasion troops landed early yesterday morn.ng on Liak Island near the western tip of Dutch New Guinea. The capture of this Japanese stronghold, the keypoiut of the Schouten Islands in Geelvink Bay, 200 miles west of Wakde Island, gives General MacArthur’s forces complete domination of Dutch New Guinea except for isolated enemy positions. “x'or strategic purposes this marks the practical end of the New Guinea campaign,” declares to-day’s Southwest Pacific Headquarters communique, announcing the final stage of MacArthur’s leapfrog offensive in Dutch New Guinea. This offensive began with the landing M Hoilandia on April 22 and was continued by the subsequent landing at Wakde Island on May 18. Only light losses were suffered by the Americans at Biak. The invasion troops went ashore under cover of air and naval bombardment and are now advancing towards the island’s three airfields seven miles from their beachhead. They are meeting Japanese resistance but the strength of this opposition .has not yet been disclosed. The capture of Biak island will enable an intensification of the Allied air and naval blockade of the remaining Japanese bases in New Guinea. With their supplies completely cut off the enemy garrisons face starvation and annihilation.

Biak island has been the most important Japanese strongpoint in the Geelvink Bay area. Its three airfields, Borido, Mokmer and Borokoe, formerly based a considerable plane strength. This, however, was effectively neutralised by incessant Allied air attacks during the past three weeks. The enemy airfields of the nearby Noemfoor island were also heavily hit in these preliminary softentog-up raids. The chief remaining Japanese strongpoint in Dutch New Guinea is Manokwari, 150 miles west of Biak. Manokwari has already been the target for a stepped-up air offensive which is now certain to be further intensified. Since General MacArthur began his great drive in New Guinea on April 22 his forces have captured 16 strategically important Japanese airfields.

4 4 The final stage has oeen reached in the offensive initiated in this theatre on June 28, 1943 by the combined forces of the Southwest Pacific and South Pacific,” says General MacArthur’s communique. “It has resulted in the reconquest or neutralisation of the Solomons, Bismarcks, Admiralties and New Guinea. From the forward point reached by the Japanese we have advanced our front approximately 1800 miles westward and approximately 700 miles to the north. “Compared with the enemy our offensive has employed only modest forces and through the maximum use of manoeuvre and surprise has incurred only light losses. These operations have effected a strategic penetration of the conquered enlpire which the Japanese were attempting to consolidate in the Southwest Pacific and have securea oases of departure for the advance to its vital areas in the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies.”

Within four hours of their landing on the southeast coast of Biak Island, the American invasion forces had gainea the dominating ridge overlooking Bosnok, the largest village on the island. Bosnok has now been captured and the Americans are extending their - perimeter around it and continuing their drive towards the cluster of three airfields which form the strategic prize on Biak Island. They are meeting enemj mortar and artillery fire. American add Australian warships escorted the invasion convoy. They wore fired on by Japanese shore batteries and destroyers were hit, damage and some casualties being caused. Liberators pounded shore targets before the landings. In a special statement to war correspondents at his headquarters to-day, General MacArthur said that the sue cess of the Allied offensive in New Guinea had more than fulfilled his most optimistic hopes and expectations. He was particularly thankful for the iiglit losses which had marked these opera tions.” STUBBORN RESISTANCE AT MAFFIN BAY Patrol torpedo boats are aiding the American land forces advancing toward the Maflin Bay airstrip in Northwest Dutch New Guinea. These swift heavily-armed craft have shelled Japanese gun positions hindering the American drive on the aerodrome. Our infantrymen have been held up on the fringe of the Maffln airstrip since Wednesday. General Mac Arthur’s communique to day reports sharp fighting in the area. A further 225 Japanese dead have been counted, bringing the total enemy casualties in the Wakde Island-Sarmi sector to 1141. Only six prisoners have been taken. American troops have captured three 75-milliinetre guns and a 37-millimetre gun as well as large quantities of ammunition and supplies in the fighting against the stubborn enemy garrison at Maffin Bay. This fierce enemy resistance is in marked contrast with that in the Hoilandia area. The Japanese from Hoilandia are fleeing westward towards Wakde* apparently unaware that the Americans hold that base. Waves of Kitty hawks are strafing the escape trails along which enemy troops in groups of 50 to 200 have been seen in flight. Allied fighters continue to give close support to the Americans fighting near the Banriwad River 30 miles east of Aitape (British New Guinea). The heaviest air attacks have been directed along this part of the New Guinea coast, particularly against Wewak-Hansa Bay. Mitchell and Boston bombers escorted by Lightning and Thunderbolt iighf/ars on Thursday and Friday swept over bivouac and supply areas with 140 tons of explosives. One plane was shot down by antiaircraft fire.