Overcome All Jap. Resistance, Take Air Strips At Hollandia

Northern Advocate, 29 April 1944, Page 5

Overcome All Jap. Resistance, Take Air Strips At Hollandia

(Special.) SYDNEY, This Day.

All Japanese opposition in the Hollandia area of Dutch New Guinea has been overcome and Cyclops. Sentani and Hollandia airfields are in Allied hands. All three fields are already in operation. The demoralised and disorganised enemy troops have fled inland to the south-west. It is believed that the Japanese may now re-group in the mountains and then attempt a desperate counter-attack. This was fire pattern of enemy strategy in the recent Admiralty Islands campaign where the invading American forces were allowed to walk in virtually unopposed, only to be attacked with great determination while consolidating their positions. It was officially announced today that 274 Japanese have been killed and about two dozen taken prisoner in the Hollandia operations. The only actions which continue in the area are where the Americans are in contact with scattered Japanese groups.

Quantities of Stores Earlier official estimates were \that 14,000 Japanese were garrisoned around Hollandia and included 3000- Marines, who are now known to have been transferred to Wewak before the American landings. The great quantities of stores taken at Hollandia, however, showed that the Japanese had intended strengthening their garrison there.

It is also now known that a large proportion of the enemy’s forces in this area comprised service troops, engineers and technicians who were not trained fighters. The Australians, 400 miles to the south-west, have gained further success by seizing Alexishafen two days after their capture of Madang. Their northward advance is continuing unopposed. . The Japanese garrison on bek Island, off the coast near Alexishafen, made a stubborn stand with supporting artillery and machine-gun fire. This resistance was overcome by forces landed from an American minesweeper. Concentrating Around Wewak

The withdrawal of the Japanese from Bogaajim, Madang and Alexishafen, suggests that the enemy is concentrating his forces around Wewak and Hansa Bay. Both these bases were heavily attacked from the air on Wednesday. Wewak was hit by more than 100 Bostons, the largest force of these attack planes yet engaged on a single operation in the South-west Pacific. They dropped 64 tons of bombs on supply dumps on Muschu Island, and on Wewak’s four aerodromes. Liberators added to the Japanese troubles by pounding the Hansa Bay supply area with 20001 b bombs. Striking far to the north-west, other Liberators on Wednesday bombed an airfield at Sarong, on the tip of Dutch New Guinea, 670 miles from Hollandia. They started large fires on the airfield and destroyed an enemy fighter attempting to take off. Ten barges laden with fully-armed troops were sunk in the same area, while another barge’ was sent on to a reef by strafing. Remarkable Success Remarkable success attended a single Liberator operating over Manokwari, 475 miles north-west of Hollandia. ’ The Liberator sank two freighters then set fire to two fishing vessels, finally shooting down an enemy bomber. A pre-daWn attack by Solomonsbased bombers on Truk, Carolines, is also reported by General MacArthur’s communique today. At Nomoi, Satawan airfield was again attacked, while at Oleai, fires were started. Rabaul. New Britain, continues to receive its daily pounding. Lakunai airfield has been attacked with 40 tons of bombs. One Allied plane was shot down, but the pilot was saved.