JAP SUPPLY LINE CUT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 November 1943, Page 5

JAP SUPPLY LINE CUT

A.I.F. GAIN IN NEW GUINEA TANKS. ARTILLERY AND AIR FORCE (Rec. 11.55 a.m.) Sydney. This Day. Australian troops have cut the important supply trail to the Japanese garrison at Satelberg. the last enemy stronghold on the Huon Peninsula, New Guinea. This trail runs north-east from Satelberg to Bonga on the coast about seven miles north of Allied-held

Finshhafen. A.I.F. troops marched 8000 yards through mountains and heavily wooded country to cut the trail. Their action is expected to shorten Japanese resistance. Stubborn fighting is reported south-west of Satelberg, where the main Australian forces are within half a mile of the township. An outstanding feature of the campaign has been the almost insignificant number of A.I.F. casualties in relation to the number of troops committed. The use of tanks and co-operation of the Air Force and artillery in heavy bombardments has been responsible for this. Without tanks, say war correspondents in the area, the swift Australian gains would have been impossible against the strongly defended Japanese positions. An important arm of the enemy’s defence. his artillery, is gradually being knocked out as his guns are pinpointed and silenced by a sudden salvo of our shells. Bulldozers are now working on the main track in the area making it “jeepable.” Until now native bearers and Australian troops have had to manhandle their supplies up a precipitous 'trail and the construction of a road passable by jeeps M'il greatly ease supply problems.