Allies Completely Control Huon Gulf

Northern Advocate, 5 October 1943, Page 3

Allies Completely Control Huon Gulf

s SYDNEY, This Day

“Capture of Finschhafen ensures our complete control of Huon Gulf." says! today’s communique from General MacArthur. “A simultaneous airground movement of 200 miles up Markham Valley through the centfc of inland New Guinea, gives us control of the entire Huon Peninsula. It has outflanked and contained all enemy centres between Finschhafen and Miadang and rendered practically useless his numerous positions and installations along the coast. The speed of this double envelopment apparently caught the enemy completely by surprise and has resulted, not only ;in dislocation of his grip on British [New Guinea but has caused him large losses with no compensating damage inflicted on our own forces. Our own. forces’ losses have been extraordinarily light. Our forces always have been less than those available to the enemy, but the element of surprise, based upon the closely co-ordinated action.of three elements of the ground, sea and air has prevented him from concentrating at critical points. Adverse weather hindered all air operations in the area.”

More than 100 Japanese barges were sunk or damaged last month by Admiral Halsey's light warships and aircraft. Most of the barges were destroyed in waters betivveen Choiseul and Kolombangara Islands in the Solomons group.

“We are having reasonable success in breaking up barge traffic,” said a South Pacific command spokesman. “These barges probably are engaged in evacuating troops from Kolombangara and supplying the holding force which the enemy evidently intends to keep there. Barge warfare greatly increased in the last week of September. In seven days we accounted for more than 50.”

; A R.A.A.F. Beaufighter unit operating in the South-west Pacific during | the past year has sunk or damaged 299 'small ships and barges, destroyed or j damaged 49 aircraft and wiped out | many supply dumps, i Destruction of shipping reached its [peak last month with 45 barges and [small ships destroyed and 51 craft of ' various types damaged. ; The communique also reports that Allied (lighters shot down two enemy bombers [over New Britain. In raids on New Brii fain by our bombers, enemy positions at Gasmata. Garoi'e Island and Rooke Island were pounded and two villages strafed. In ia daylight attack on Amboina Island. |Allied heavy bombers dropped many tons |of explosives on the town of Ambon, i causing heavy damage and starting large ; fires.

“The campaign leading to the capture of Finschhafen will become an exemplar for all military students,” said General MacArthur’s spokesman. Brigadier-General Charles A. Willoughby, at a Press conference. “For anticipation, planning and split-second timing it will be remembered long after the war as one of the great strategic victories. The enemy had been lured into showing his strength at Lae. while simultaneous moves on either flank at Salamaua and Finschhafen had taken him completely by surprise. “There is good reason to be proud of our achievements in the South-west Pacific area because of the limited resources available to. us. We still do not have enough. The Japanese Empire has more than 70 divisions of troops and great [industrial resources. He is sucking his [newly-won territories of fuel, rubber, tin [and many other things we need and he is in a position to go on doing this unhindered while he retains control of his inner sea, which is beyond range of bombers from this area.

“The Japanese are still able to reinforce New Guinea with any number of divisions they like, and we must, always keep that in mind."