ISLAND BATTLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25431, 12 January 1944, Page 3

ISLAND BATTLES

PRESSURE ON JAPANESE MARINES RESUME ADVANCE (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 11. Both at Cape Gloucester (Western New Britain) and on the Huon Peninsula (New Guinea) Japanese troops are under severe pressure from Allied ground and air forces. Fighting on an increased scale has been reported from Cape Gloucester, where American marines have resumed their advance in the Borgen Bay area. Up to Sunday more than 2000 Japanese dead had been counted, while the full enemy casualties may be four times this number. It is officially stated that the marines’ casualties, including wounded, are fewer than 15 per cent, of the Japanese dead. The fiercest fighting is for the possession of an observation point known as Hill 66, where the marines are reported to be gaining ground against stiff enemy opposition. The Australians on the north coast of the Huon Peninsula continue to make headway. They have overcome some Japanese resistance near Uemaga River. Behind this river the country rises in a series of 50-foot terraces lo a height of about 400 feet. Japanese rearguards have occupied defensive positions in this area, barring the way to their barge base of Sio. These rearguards are apparently trying to cover the escape of the main enemy forces, but so far have met with little success. Allied aircraft on Saturday and Sunday dropped more than 200 tons of bombs on Japanese coastal bases and supply trails in North New Guinea. At Gali, in the Saidor area, where the Americans landed recently. Allied destroyers joined in the assault, bombarding shore positions and starting fires. Destroyers and patrol torpedo-boats in this area sank or destroyed 11 Japanese barges, seven of which were laden with troops or supplies. It has not been revealed whether these enemy forces were being evacuated from or taken to the Saidor area, where the Americans, expanding their beach-head, have not yet encountered major Japanese resistance. The heaviest bombing attacks reported by General MacArthur’s communique to-day were on Alexishafen (88 tons), Madang (44 tons), and Bogadjim (36 tons). Supply installations were among the mam targets. In New Guinea and the Solomons a total of 21 Japanese barges were destroyed and many others damaged. Australian-based Liberators have made a daylight raid on Kandari (the Celebes), where 25 tons of explosives were dropped on the aerodrome and barracks. In a running battle lasting 35 minutes, our aircraft shot down six of thirteen intercepting fighters and probably destroyed four more. One Liberator is missing.