MUBO CAPTURED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25280, 17 July 1943, Page 5

MUBO CAPTURED

OUTPOST OF SALAMAUA ENEMY CLEARED FROM AREA (Rec. 11.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 16. Allied forces have captured Mubo, an important outpost in the enemy's Salamaua defence system. Our troops are now pressing on to Komiatum, on the main trail from Mubo to Salamaua. The entire Mubo area has now been cleared of the enemy, who has lost 950 killed. The Allied losses are described as light. The official announcement of the fall of Mubo was made to-day in'General MacArthur’s communique, which said: “ Mubo bastion has been captured. The American forces, after landing and consolidating the beach-head at Nassau Bay on June 30, moved inland up the valley of the Bitoi River, effecting a junction with Australian units in Bui Gap Creek at dusk on July 10. This move was effected in complete secrecy and operated to cut the enemy's line of communication between Mubo and Salamaua and isolate his garrison on Observation and Green's Hills. Pressing on to Komiatum “ Following this enveloping move and in'co-ordination with the attacks on elements in the rear areas, the Australian forces attacked from Lababia Ridge and Garrison Hill and destroyed enemy defences on Observation Hill, The Pimple, and Green’s

Hill. Our ground forces have now cleared the Mubo area of all organised enemy resistance, and are pressing on 1o Komiatum. Approximately 950 enemy troops were killed. Our losses are light.” It is considered probable that a large number of the Japanese defenders of Mubo were killed in the record aerial bombai'dment on July 7, when more than 50 Allied bombers dropped 106 tons of high explosives on enemy ground positions in a terrific half-hour onslaught. Long and Arduous Campaign

The news of the fall of Mubo was preceded last night by a special announcement from General MacArthur's headquarters that Allied troops were closing in against the enemy's defences. While no details of the final action have yet been reported, the successful outcome is the climax of long and arduous campaigning in extremely difficult country. For some months Australian troops have been fighting from positions around Mubo. where an apparent stalemate situation had persisted. The official announcement of the clearing out of this enemy nest was accompanied to-day by the report of an attack by nirfe Japanese divebombers on Nassau Eay and a further attack by six bombers on Woody Island. Both raids were ineffective. The Allied troops pressing on towards Komiatum have been supported by Boston attack planes, which bombed and strafed enemy installations around Bobdubi.