Finschhafen Heaviest Fighting Since Buna

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1943, Page 3

Finschhafen Heaviest Fighting Since Buna

(Rec. 1 p.m.)

SYDNEY. This Day

In the final drive on Finschhafen, the Japanese Huon Peninsula base. New Guinea, the Australians are engaged in the heaviest fighting since the Buna campaign. Japanese resistance is aimed at making the loss of Finschhafen as costly as possible to the Allies.

Shock troops broke through the core of enemy defences at Bumi River, threeauarters of a mile north of Finschhafen. Bridgeheads were held and enlarged to cover the crossing of the main forces.

Under the full weight of the Australian attack, the Japanese are steadily falling back towards the township. Strong opposition is expected farther on towards Langemak Bay near Finschhafen anchorage, where the defenders have been feverishly working on cross-fire machinegun trenches and snipers’ posts. Enemy opposition at Bumi River has provided the first warning that the capture of the base would be difficult. In the Lae campaign the failure of the Japanese to make a stand at the outer defences on Busu River foretold the collapse of the inner defences. A drive by the Australians to capture the Japanese base of Finschhafen. in New Guinea, is moving rapidly to a climax. Our troops are less than a mile from the town, the fall of which is believed to be imminent.

The latest communiques from General MacXrthur’s headquarters report the capture of the airfield two miles north of the town and the crossing of the Bumi River in the face of enemy opposition.

Allied fighters intercepted a force of nine Japanese bombers, covered by 30 fighters, approaching to attack our ground forces. The enemy planes were forced to jettison their bombs harmlessly before reaching the target. One enemy fighter was shot down and another probably destroyed. Two Allied fighters were lost. General MacArthur’s heavy bombers on reconnaissance off New Ireland sank a 2000-ton Japanese cargo ship. New Britain Feeling Air Pressure

Enemy aerodromes and installations on New Britain are feeling the weight of persistent attacks by Allied bombers. A raid before dawn on the enemy’s new airfield at Cape Hoskins started fires in supply and ammunition dumps. One of our planes failed to return. Dive-bombing attacks were made on Gasmata Island and many hits scored on the target area. Bombers also pounded the building area on the Japanese-occupied Rooke Island, in Vitiaz Strait, between New Guinea and New Britain.

In the Central Solomons, Admiral Halsey’s bombers at night attacked three medium cargo vessels and a cruiser off Buka Island, with unknown results.