Closing In On Airfield

Northern Advocate, 26 April 1944, Page 7

Closing In On Airfield

(Rec. 3.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day American forces at 1-lollandia, Dutch New Guinea, are closing in on the airfield area from two directions. General MacArthur’s communique to-day reports. No mention is made of Japanese opposition. Earlier reports indicate that strong enemy forces were concentrated around the airfield.

■ At Aitape. Allied planes are now making use of the captured Tadji airfield. Japanese troops from the area have fled to the hills.

Allied air forces continue to smash points of Japanese concentration along the New Guinea coast. At Wewak a further 184 tens of bombs dropped on four airfields in the sector has ensured their continued unserviceability.

In attacks on Japanese supplies.and personnel at Hansa Bay, 122 tons of bombs were dropped. In air combat over Woleai, in the Carolines on April 23, 17 of 30 Japanese interceptors were shot down with four other's probably destroyed. One Liberator was lost.

U.S. Navy. The Senate unanimously approved the record (32,045,(100,000 dollar's) Navy Appropriation Bill, which the House of Representatives had previously unanimously passed. Senators expressed the hope that the full battle fleet would be retained after tire war.