SOUTHERN PACIFIC PUSH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 3 July 1943, Page 5

SOUTHERN PACIFIC PUSH

MUNDA AIRFIELD UNDER SHELL FIRE Over 100 Enemy Planes Shot Down

Sydney, July 2

Heavy fighting is raging north of Viru Harbour, New Georgia, which was captured by American forces early on Wednesday norning. More than 100 Japanese planes have been destroyed since the American troops in the Solomons landed at Rendova Island and at Viru. When 100 Japanese planes tried to smash States warships and transports, 65 of them were destroyed. The Americans lost 17 planes. One transport was sunk without loss of life.

Details are revealed in General MacArthur’s latest communique, which says that two hours after the occupation of Viru h*rf»n«.r American shore batteries opened fire on Munda airfield. Rendnva fell in eight hours. American reinforcements and supplies have been put ashore in Viru harbour under cover of naval guns and aircraft, and the Japanese have rallied their forces for the defence of Munda. It is estimated that 300 planes have contested in bitter air battles.

Detailing developments in this area, General MacArthur’s communique says: “At Rendova, United States forces landed at dawn on 30th June, successfully completing the operation shortly after midday, destroying the enemy garrison. Air and naval forces supported the landing operations. Enemy bases at Vila and Munda were shelled by supporting surface craft and were heavily attacked by medium and dive-bombers. Other surface units bombarded enemy installations in the Ballale—Faisi area. Our shore batteries opened fire on Munda two hours after debarkation. The enemy counter-attacked throughout the day with medium and dive-bomb-ers, torpedo-planes and fighters. Latest advices do not indicate the total of bomber forces involved in the action, but 101 enemy planes were destroyed in air combat and by anti-aircraft fire. Seventeen of our planes are missing. On New Georgia Island, United States ground forces captured an enemy barge base at Viru harbour after hard fighting.”

Australian land forces are driving from 'he Mubo area of northern New Guinea towards Nassau Bay where American troops landed early on Wednesday morning. The Americans are consolidating their landiDg.

General MacArthur’s latest communique indicates that South Pacific air forces are heavily engaged in battle in the New Guinea zone and are subjecting enemy bases, particularly Rabaul, to a terrific pounding. These attacks are designed mainly to prevent Japanese air interference with Allied operations.

The situation on the Trobriand and Woodlark Islands is reported to be quiet after unopposed landings. The latest communique from Allied headquarters in the South-West Pacific reviews the 700-mile span of island frants. Some of the details are parallel to those given in Washington naval communiques, but additional details are furnished.

It was announced kt General MacArthur’s headquarters to-day that contact between American forces at Nassau Bay and Japanese was being maintained. Although there is no sign yet of a Japanese counter-attack in this area, the Americans have encountered some machine-gun fir2 as well as booby traps. The Japanese in the SalamauaMubo area are now hemmed in on two sides by Allied foi 2s. The terrain in this area is mountainous and difficult.

In support of Allied ground forces Boston attack bombers have bombed and strafed an enemy position at Duali at the north end of Nassau Bay, commanding the coastal track to Muba LIGHT ALLIED CASUALTIES Casualties among landing troops have been light in all areas. None were suffered at Trobriand, Woodlark, or Nassau Bay, although some of our landing craft were damaged in exceptionally rough seas. It is reported that Allied casualties in the New Guinea area have been small. * One of the heaviest blows of Allied air operations supporting the general offensive was aimed against air installations at the enemy’s key base of Rabaul. Early on Thursday morning Liberators, in attacking waves, struck at Japanese airfields, dropping 22 tons of bombs on Lakunai, Vunakahau and Rapopo. Medium bombers attacked in the Salamaua area, while low-flying Bostons raided the nearby base of Lae, where they concentrated on an aerodrome. There has also been a flare-up of patrol skirmishes in the Salamaua area, where Allied troops attacked enemy parties at Malolo and Orodubi, killing at least 26 and wounding many others. Over Buka Passage in the northern Solomon', a single reconnoitring Liberator of General MacArthur’s Command dama, d two of three intercepting float planes. Extreme range has, up till the present, given Rabaul a measure of immunity to “squeeze” pressure from the two Pacific areas. The capture of the Trobriands has advanced Allied air bases to within 270 miles of Rabaul. It also brings the Allies within 140 miles of Gasmata, which the Japanese used as a jumping-off point for their missions against New Guinea by aircraft based on Rabaul.

The gap to the enemy’s powerful Buin-Faisi defensive area in the northern Solomons is shrunk to 320 miles from tfiis quarter. Although there are no airfields on Kiriwina main island, the Trobriands’ country is suitable for their construction. The island is 25 miles long and two to eight miles wide. The area is exceptionally free from malaria and healthy for white people. The native population is about 7000.

Fast patrol and torpedo-boats were part of the naval force which covered the American landings on the Trobriands and Woodlark Island. This is

the first report of torpedo-boats being in action in the South-West Pacific area. Allied troops secretly visited both islands some time before the landings.

Woodlark was at one time the chief goldfield of Papua. It is about 45 miles long and five to ten wide. There are rivers and mountains on the island, which has good anchorages on the south coast. The native population is about 800. It is revealed that certain phases of these operations are under the command of Lieut.-General Walter Krueger, Commander of the American Sixth Army.

The landing of American troops at Nassau Bay, northern New Guinea, directly menaces the important Japanese base of Salamaua, as well as the enemy’s inland defences at Mubo. Australian forces have occupied Bobdubi village, only five miles from Salamaua. Americans threaten the Japanese outpost of Duali, only two miles from Nassau Bay, and are commanding the only track from the coast to Mubo. Salamaua has been in Japanese hands since Bth March, 1942—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.

USEFUL HARBOURS

THE NEWLY-WON BASES FRIENDLINESS OF NATIVES Rendova Island, which has been occupied by American forces, lies right opposite the Munda Bay area, in New Georgia, about five miles to the south. Viewed from Munda, the island stands out very prominently. It has an excellent anchorage suitable for large vessels, and a passageway in sheltered water between RendDva and Montgomery Islands through Blanche Channel toward Guadalcanal The Japanese have strong airfields in the Munda Bay area. HILLS AND VALLEYS The Woodlark group, situated north of the Louisiade Archipelago, consists of o' large island. Woodlark itself, sometimes called Murua, and six small islands. Woodlark Island was at one time the chief goldfield of Papua. It was here that the first payable field in the territory was worked. It is about 38 miles in length from east to west and has a number of good anchorages on the southern coast, including Guasopa and Suloga Harbours. The island is made up of a succession of hills and valleys covered by dense tropical jungle. The natives are Melanesian in type, but there is a mixture of Papuan blood. From Woodlark was obtained so-called greenstone for axes and ceremonial stones, consisting of an impure serpentine, almost as hard as New Zealand greenstone. RICH SOIL CULTIVATED The trobriand group, which lies to the north of the D’Entrecasteaux Islands on the east of Papua, consist of eight islands of varying size, all formed of coral. Some rise abruptly from the shore to a height of about 300 ft., forming coral cliffs. Others are only just above the surface of the water. The soil on top of these coral islands is very rich. The natives cultivate large gardens, where they raise yams for export to adjacent plantations.

The population, which before the war numbered about 8500, closely resembles the Polynesian type of native. A friendly and hospitable people, the inhabitants are adept in the art of carving. Some of them produce many fine articles intricately inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Most of the shell and the beche-de-mer sent out of Papua in peacetime came from these islands.