Naval Assistance In Salamaua Battle

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1943, Page 3

Naval Assistance In Salamaua Battle

(Special) SYDNEY, This Day Allied land forces have made important new gains in the struggle for Salamaua, Japanese advance base in New Guinea. Australian troops have crossed Francisco River at the western approaches to the airfield while others are engaged in mopping up enemy stragglers around Komiatum. Capture of Komiatum announced on Sunday cut the enemy's main supply route and threatened the Japanese | garrison with encirclement and anniI hilation. Our advance across Francisco River tightens this encircling movement though heavy country still lies between the Australians and the airfield. A second Australian force is engaging the enemy in six defensive positions further south along the river bank, while fresh isolated encounters between other Australian and Japanese forces also fit into the general pattern of the Allied drive for Salamaua. The air strip against which the Allied advance is mainly directed, lies about a mile south of Salamaua township and close to Francisco River American troops which landed at Nassau Bay eight miles south of Salamaua and later linked with Australians moving up the coast are now within four miles of the air strip. First Naval Bombardment Allied naval units have joined in increasing pressure against Salamaua Light warships last night struck at the enemy's rear supply zone at Finschhafen. In this sweep. Allied warships, operating for the first time in the area, bombarded enemy ships and dock's installations and supply dumps. No return fire was recorded. Allied land forces are also receiving close air support. Apart from direct attacks on the enemy's defences, emplanes are continually patrolling the shores of Huon Peninsula to prevent the enemy getting reinforcements or supplies to Salamaua by sea. Yesterday our aircraft attacked Finschhafen, Marwasa. Rooke Island and Salamaua areas. Jap. Morale Dropping War correspondents with forward troops say there are signs that Japanese morale is dropping under ceaseless pounding from Australian and American artillery, but it is thought that they will make a stubborn last ditch stand for Salamaua. Every enemy withdrawal has left the Allies in possession of new points that will he extremely valuable in a final assault. The last Japanese chance of retrieving the position at Salamaua was smashed a week ago when Allied planes destroyed a large enemy air armada on the ground at Wewak. In five days Allied bombers and fighters have destroyed at least 306 Japanese planes, probably destroyed 11 and damaged three. The Allies have lost only 11 planes in these attacks. General MacArthur’s bombers yesterday made widespread strikes to the north of Australia. Another Attack cn Celebes Continuing their long-range raids on the Netherlands Indies key points, Liberators successfully attacked the aerodrome and town areas at Kendari, Celebes, an important aircraft assembly base. A flight ct' nearly 2000 miles was involved. No changes are reported in the ground situation in the Solomons, where Allied light naval force.-; are continuing attacks against Japanese barge hide-outs. Tokio radio announced that Japanese naval air units on August 21 raided enemy air bases near Brooks Creek, Northwestern Australia. Runways and antiaircraft positions were blasted at bases used for Allied long-range raids on Japanese-occupied areas.