LANDINGS IN BORNEO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 12 June 1945, Page 5

LANDINGS IN BORNEO

AUSTRALIAN 9th DIVISION ADVANCE OF OVER TWO MILES CASUALTIES REPORTED TO BE LIGHT (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) New York, June I 1. Australian troops of the Ninth Division have landed at four points in British North Borneo. General MacArthur announces that the landings were at two places on Labuan Island and at Brooketon and Maura, all in Brunei Bay. A few hours after the landing, General MacArthur stated: “Rarely is such a great strategic prize obtained at such a low cost of life.” Brunei Bay is 800 miles north-east of Singapore and 600 miles east of the shore of Indo-China. The Japanese were taken by surprise and consequently our casualties were light. The Brunei area is rich in oil, rubber, coal, lumber, iron and other resources and in the 500 square miles of its sheltered bay numberless ships of any size can ride at anchor.

The Australians have already captured the city and airfield on Labuan, says a correspondent with the forces in Brunei Bay. They have advanced more than two miles inland on the mainland from Brooketon towards Brunei town. Naval and air bombardment levelled beach defences and assault troops went ashore, meeting only scattered opposition. Warships of the United States Seventh Fleet and Royal Australian and 13th Air Forces are supporting the operation. The United Press of America Manila correspondent says the landings on Labuan are on opposite sides of the island. Australian troops are commanded by Lieut.-General Sir Leslie Morshead. General MacArthur and the Commander of the U.S. 13th Air Force went ashore with the assault waves on Labuan. The establishment of air and naval facilities at Brunei Bay, combined with those in the Philippines, will complete the chain of mutually supporting strategic bases 1500 miles long, from which air and naval forces are within continuous effective range of the Asiatic coast fron Singapore to Shanghai. At Brunei and Tarakan the Allies are at the strategic centre of the Celebes, Bali, Java. Sumatra, Malaya and Indo-China.