MOUNTING FURY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25428, 8 January 1944, Page 5

MOUNTING FURY

NEW BRITAIN FIGHTING HEAVY ENEMY LOSSES (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 7. In land fighting of mounting fury the American marines on Cape Gloucester have slaughtered a further 600 Japanese in a day-long battle in the Borgen Bay area. The total of enemy killed counted at Cape Gloucester since the marines landed on December 26 is now nearly 2000, but the actual number of Japanese casualties may have been four times that figure. In their present push to drive the enemy troops back from their Borgen Bay strongholds the marines have strong artillery and tank as well as direct air support. The Japanese, whose strength is believed to have come from the interior, where the country is rugged and heavily timbered, are also making increased use of artillery. No reports have been received of land operations at Arawe (Southern New Britain), where the Americans who landed on December 15 are consolidating their hold of the Cape Merkus peninsula area.

At the Saidor beach-head, in Northern New Guinea, established by the Americans last Sunday, our patrols have made the first contact with the enemy

at Cape Iris. The Australians driving up Huon Peninsula to make contact with the Americans at Saidor, about 70 miles distant, are now 12 air miles from Sio, an important enemy barge base. Fleeing Japanese troops are believed to be trying to reach Sio in an effort to evacuate the peninsula. All their land avenues of escape have been closed by the Allied forces on Huon Peninsula, at Saidor, and in Ramu Valley.

Madang, Japanese supply base just 55 miles north-west of Saidor, and nearby Alexishafen have been hit with 243 tons of bombs. During the past fortnight the area has been a target for almost daily aerial attacks. Allied patrol boats have taken additional toll of the enemy barge traffic along this coast.