DUTCH NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 27 May 1944, Page 5

DUTCH NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN

INTENSIVE JAP COUNTER-FIRE BATTLE FOR MAFFIN AIRFIELD Sydney, May 26. Supported by tanks, artillery and aircraft, American forces driving from their bridgehead on the Tor river have reached Maffin airstrip in Dutch New Guinea. They broke through intensive counter-fir©-anesc 75 m.m. guns caused casualties among the Americans’ medium tanks. It is not yet known " hcther the Americans have captured Maffin airfield. They were still under enemy fire when they reached the strip. However, open ground favours the use of tanks, and it is expected that the strip must soon be taken. Supply problems of Japanese troops in the area have been intensified by the destruction of a bridge across Woske river west of the airstrip.

Up till Tuesday American casualties in the Wadke Island-Sarmi sector were 61 killed. 182 wounded and three missing. Japanese casualties have b een 971 killed and five captured. American engineers performed a notable feat m their rapid preparation cf captured Wadke aerodrome. The coral runway was extended to 6000 feet in four days. Pilots say it is now one of the best strips in the SouthWest Pacific. Except -in the Lake Sentani area contact with Japanese remnants around Hollandia is on a reduced scale. At Hollandia and Aitape Jpanese casualties have now reached 3222. In the Geelvink Bay area 250 miles west of Wadke Island, Boston bombers destroyed 19 grounded aircraft and damaged 12 others in two raids on Kamiri and a number of aerodromes on Neomfoor Island. Fuel dumps were set ablaze.—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.