Australian Cavalry Used In New Guinea

Northern Advocate, 14 December 1943, Page 3

Australian Cavalry Used In New Guinea

(Rec. 3 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Australian troops driving northwards in the coastal sector of the Huon Peninsula, New Guniea, have crossed the Sowi River and are nearing the village of Lakona. Tanks are supporting the advance. In the inland sector, the Australian column advancing northwards from Wareo is maintaining pressure on the Japanese rearguards. Increased air activity has been reported over the Ramu Valley, where an Australian force is endeavouring to throw the Japanese out of strong defensive positions in the foothills of the Finisterre range.

Two Japanese bombers and one fighter were shot down and a second fighter probably destroyed when an Allied fighter patrol intercepted an enemy formation attacking Gusap. Allied planes have again attacked enemy bases in western New Britain, Gasmata and Borgen Bay being targets. Heightened air activity is reported from the Northern Solomons where Admiral Halsey’s aircraft have made widespread attacks on Bougainville Island targets.

Australian horse cavalry are in action in the Itanui Valley, New Guinea. This is the, first occasion on which horse cavalry have been used in the Southwest Pacific area. Already, Australian cavalrymen have had several clashes with the Japanese. They are being employed mainly for scouting and reconnaissance in country well suited to mounted movement. On Muon Peninsula, other Australian troops, despite torrential rains, are steadily driving back the Japanese. In the coastal sector, our forces have pushed a mile beyond the mouth of the Turnom River which is three miles north of Bonga. After fierce fighting they have cleared the Japanese out of strong hill positions well suited for defence. More than 100 enemy dead have been counted in the area. Beyond Wareo , A second Australian force in the inland area of the Peninsula is now a. mile and a half beyond Wareo. The Japanese are fighting stubborn rearguard actions. American aircraft continue to give close support to Australian ground forces. Mitchell bombers have attacked Japanese supply and bivouac areas on the northern coast of the peninsula with 20 tons of explosives. They have also kept up their incessant pounding of enemy targets in Western New Britain. Japanese bases here have been under unflagging aerial attack for the past three weeks. More Jap. Air Activity For the first time in many weeks, the Japanese Air Force has given signs of large-scale activity in New Guinea'. When 40 enemy fighters attempted a dawn attack on Australian positions in the Ramu Valley, they were intercepted and driven off by eight Kittyhawks. Our fighter patrol suffered no loss. In the Solomons, a Japanese attack against the American beach-head at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville Island, was repulsed, the enemy abandoning killed. Liberators made the longest flight (2600 miles) yet recorded in South-west Pacific operations to strike for the third time at the oil refining' centre of Balik Papan, Borneo. Large explosions and fires resulted. Balik Papan was last raided on August 14. Other Liberators have attacked the wharf area at Macassar, Celebes, making a round flight of 2400 miles. Damaging fires were started. This was the fifth raid on Macassar. Fresh Meat for Troops Allied troops in New Guinea will receive fresh meat four times weekly. This will be supplied mainly from the Australian Army’s own meat works in North Queensland. The Minister for the Army (Mr. Forde) announced that in the past three months, Australian army vegetable gardens in the north produced 1.500,000 lbs. of vegetables, while army poultry farms produced 1400 dozen eggs. Army vegetable gardens in New Guinea have provided troops with 450 tons of vegetables this year.