Japs At Hollandia Offer No Strong Front To Invading Americans

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1944, Page 5

Japs At Hollandia Offer No Strong Front To Invading Americans

(Special) syuinli, mis uay. Mystery surrounds the whereabouts of powerful Japanese forces believed to be concentrated around Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea. American troops advancing in a pincers movement against three airfields in the area have not yet encountered major opposition. Earlier reports estimated that about 15,000 Japanese were garrisoned at Hollandia. The American forces which captured Hollandia township have driven a further one and a-half miles towards the aerodromes. Australian fighter aircraft from the captured Japanese airstrips at Tadji, near Aitape, are now supporting the Americans at Hollandia, 125 miles to the north-west. Thus the Allies have achieved the first objective of the Aitape landing, which was to secure an airfield from which the Americans at Hollandia might be provided with land-based air cover. Jap. Losses At Aitape Only 98 Japanese were killed around Aitape. Seme prisoners were taken, but the bulk of the Japanese forces in the area withdrew on Monday from Santa Anna mission about one mile from Aitape village under pressure from the Americans. This enemy force comprised two companies. Sole Japanese air opposition! was offered on Sunday night when a single enemy raider bombed the Hollandia area. Meanwhile, General MacArthur's aircraft are giving enemy airfields and troop concentrations east of the invasion points a relentless pounding. In the Wewak area. 184 tons of 20001 b bombs, dropped on four aerodromes, has ensured their continued unserviceability. At Hansa Bay, 123 tens of bombs, including many of the fragmentation variety, were dropped in personnel areas and on supply-dumps. Antiaircraft fire was reduced to a few machine-guns and all our planes returned. Main Strategic Prize A combination of potential harbour and airfield development enhances the military vaiue of the Hollandia area, which is the main strategic prize ol‘ the New Guinea invasion operations. Humboldt Bay, on which Hollandia is situated, provides the only extensive anchorage between Wewak and Geelvink Bay. a stretch of 450 miles. Hollandia was used as a flying boat base by the Royal Netherlands Navy, which built a slipway and installed mooring buoys. The coastline is rugged and steep. Three airfields are situated in the area—Hollandia, Scntani and Cyclops. Hollandia strip is 17 miles from Hollandia village. Sentani 12 miles, and Cyclops 11 miles. Administration Centre The Second American invasion area, Aitape. before the war, was an administration and trading centre, and first port cl' call in the mandated territories for steamers from Hongkong and Manila. However, port facilities there are primitive, and unloading of vessels was done by surf boats. Aitape village is situated oh a syampy. coastal plain, about four miles wide. Behind the plain rise 4000 ft. mountains. Allied landings were made on the beach, about five miles south-east of Aitape village, within 2000 yards of Tadji fighter and bomber airstrips. In November, last year, the Japanese began extension of this airfield, but incessant Allied aerial attacks prevented the completion of the work. *