CLEAR OF ENEMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24540, 24 March 1943, Page 3

CLEAR OF ENEMY

NORTHERN NEW GUINEA ALLIES KILL 700 JAPANESE (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 9.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 23 During the past two months Allied troops have carried out protracted but little publicised operations through steamy jungle swamps along the North New Guinea coast, News of these operations was given to-day in General Mac Arthur's communique, revealing that more than 700 Japanese have been killed and 100 captured in the coastal strip between Buna and Mambare, the latter point being about 60 miles up the const from Buna. Our patrols also found the graves of large numbers of Japanese, who had apparently died from starvation and disease. The whole of the Northern Now Guinea coast as far west as Mambare is now cleared of the enemy, and this Allied occupation area is a serious threat to the Japanese bases at Lae and Salamaua. The distance from Mambare to Salamaua is about 100 miles. Beachhead Abandoned Earlier this month it was reported that the Japanese, following the recent sinking of the large convoy in the Bismarck Sea, had abandoned the fortress defensive positions at the mouth of the Mambare River. This part of the coast was the scene of an enemy landing last December, when about 400 troops camo ashore from a badly-battered convoy. Many of these troops, together with others fleeing from Buna and Gona, perished in the swamps around Mambiye. Japanese Lost in Convoy In their operations our ground patrols fought scattered actions against limited enemy opposition. Cfoso air and ground co-operation enabled our gains to be made with minimum losses. Our aircraft did invaluable work in reconnoitring, as well as softening, the enemy positions. It is thought that small numbers of Japanese moved down the coast to Mambare from Lae and Salamaua. These troops were probably intended to secure the Mambare beachhead fortress while enemy convoys landed reinforcements. However, Allied bombers drove off all the ships. The annihilated Bismarck Sea convoy might have been intended to divide and land some of its 15,000 troops at Mambare, while the remainder were put ashore at Lae.

AIR OPERATIONS 20GOLB. BOMBS ON GASMATA (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 23 Tho communique issued to-day from General Mac Arthur's Headquarters states that three enemy bombers raided the Milne Bav area shortly after midnight at a high altitude. There were two casualties, but no other damage. A night fighter intercepted the raiders and fired a burst into one bomber, which dived away in a damaged condition. Ono of our heavy units bombed an enemy schooner in tho harbour at Lorengau, in the Admiralty Islands. There has been only patrol activity in the north-eastern sector. In a co-ordinated raid on Gasmata, in New Britain, our heavy bombers, accompanied by long-range fighters, effectively attacked the aerodrome, scoring direct hits with 20001b. bombs on the runway and starting large fires. Our fighters heavily strafed the area from a low altitude, causing heavy damage to buildings and other installations. Close reconnaissance of the sea lanes and waters off the south coast of New Britain failed to disclose any trace of the enemy destroyer heavily damaged on the previous night by our air attack. One of our heavy units machine-gunned the town of Madang, in New Guinea, and at Finschhafen one plane bombed the runway. The town of Lae was machine-gunned. STRENGTH OF JAPAN AIR ACES KEPT IN RESERVE (Reed. 7.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 22 Asked for an explanation for _ the apparent diminution of the striking power of the Japanese air force, Mr. Elmer Davis, director of the Office of War Information, expressed the opinion that the majority of the enemy's firstline pilots had been knocked out and that the reserves were less capable. Mr. Davis said Japan undoubtedly possessed a reserve of air aces, but he was unable to say whether they were being held for offensive or defensive purposes. There was no evidence of any development of advanced types .of Japanese aircraft. Expressing sympathy with a suggestion that the Office of War Information prepare a statement setting out all known facts about the military position of Japan, estimating the naval, army and air strengths, as well as the internal situation, All". Davis said the statement would be particularly useful in England, where the Japanese menace was held to be still less understood than in America.

AUSTRALIA'S EFFORT RELATIONS WITH DOMINION (Reed. 9.50 p.m.) CANBERRA, March 23 While New Zealand's war effort has been a remarkable one, Australia's effort lias been phenomenal, said the newly appointed High Commissioner for New Zealand in Australia, Mr. C. A. Berendsen, at his first press interview. He acknowledged the great assistance New Zealand had received from Australia and answered many questions concerning the impact of war'on New Zealand life. Admiral Halscy bad mad© a splendid impression on New Zealand, said Mr. Berendsen. Indeed, American leadership in the South Pacific was extremely good and New Zealanders had the utmost confidence in the command. Discussing the relationship between Australia and New Zealand, Mr. Berendsen said the problems of war and of external affairs generally in tho two Dominions were essentially tho same Anv differences were of detail, not princinlo. "We wish to establish the closest possible liaison between New Zealand and Australia with the object of attaining the greatest co-operation," Sir. Berendsen said. " That is the object of my appointment here." So far as could be seen the threat to New Zealand was receding rather than advancing, but one hour's bad luck on a dark night might change the situation. UNITED STATES VISIT MR. EDEN'S CONFERENCES LONDON, March 22 The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, accompanied by the British Ambassador. Lord Halifax, and Sir. William Strang, of the Foreign Office, resumed the conferences with the American Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, at Washington to-day. There are indications that problems involving the Soviet are being discussed. This was the first direct contact Mr. Strang had had with Mr. Hull. Before entering the conference Mr. Eden told the press in connection with Mr. Churchill's speech: "Tt was pretty much what 1 have been telling you."