ISLAND CAMPAIGN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25426, 6 January 1944, Page 3

ISLAND CAMPAIGN

FLARE-UP IN NEW BRITAIN ENEMY HEAVILY REPULSED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 5. Land fighting again flared up at Cape Gloucester (Western New Britain) on Monday. The Japanese attacked the American beach-head near Silimati Point, but were decisively repulsed, leaving 200 dead on the battlefield. This brings the number of enemy killed counted at Cape Gloucester to 1500. The total Japanese casualties are believed to be many times this figure. Western New Britain is the only sector of the South-west Pacific in which the Japanese are at present offering measurable resistance to Allied ground forces. The Americans who landed at Saidor (Northern New Guinea) on Sunday have now enlarged their beach-head to an area of about 10 square miles. Patrols are being pushed out in an endeavour to make contact with the enemy. A spectacular advance has been made by the Australian troops driving north along the coast of Huon Peninsula. They have progressed 10 miles in the past two days. The Australians have advanced 27 miles from Masaweng since December 12. Their advance had proceeded on only eight days, the remainder of the time being employed for resting and consolidating. They are now approacning the Cape King William area, about 80 air miles from Saidor. The Japanese are offering only token opposition. The main duty of their rearguard appears to be observation of the Australian advance.

In the Ramu Valley good roads capable of carrying heavy traffic have been built, replacing native tracks which once wound their way through kunai grass. This transformation has taken place since the Australians entered the valley early in September. The use of these roads will ease the Australians’ supply problem and enable stronger pressure to be exerted against the Japanese forces occupying positions in the Finisterre ranges. Rabaul (New Britain), the main Japanese base in the South-west Pacific, has again been a target for an aerial sweep bv Allied Solomons-based fighters. When 30 Zeros intercepted 11 were shot down, with three probably destroyed. The Allied losses are officially described as light. General MacArthur’s communique today also reports the destruction by air attack of an enemy schooner, a lighter, and two barges off the south coast of New Britain. Madang, an important Japanese New Guinea base, which is the target for the present Allied land drives, has again been bombed. Our fighters destroyed bridges on the Japanese supply road between Madang and Bogadjim. This road links with trails running into Ramu Valley.