FORCES LINKED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25458, 12 February 1944, Page 5

FORCES LINKED

ALLIES IN NEW GUINEA HUON PENINSULA REOCCUPIED ENEMY FORCE ANNIHILATED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 11. Allied troops have reoccupied the whole of the Huon Peninsula (New Guinea), and the bulk of the 14,000 trapped Japanese were annihilated. The Australians, driving up the Rai coast from Sio, linked with the Americans at Yagomai yesterday, thus ending the Huon Peninsula campaign, which began with the landing near Finschhafen (at the southern end ,of the peninsula) on September 21. Yagomai, the meeting place of the Americans and the Australians, is 14 miles southeast of the American beach-head at Saidor.

Summing up the campaign, General MacArthur’s communique to-day states: “This contact ended a relentless pursuit for 150 miles which lasted many weeks and led over most difficult terrain. Australian troops and American engineers were engaged. It concludes the phase of the New Guinea campaign initiated with the landing at Finschhafen.

Gradually Destroyed “The Japanese reinforced- division trapped with its supply and communication line cut and its way to the south blocked by almost impassable mountain ranges and our forces in the Ramu Valley, was gradually destroyed in its desperate efforts to break out tc the west. Starvation and disease, as well as constant air bombardment and continuous attacks by light naval units, supplemented the work of our ground forces.” . The Japanese on Huon Peninsula' made their last stand in force at Satelberg, 10 miles north-west* of Finschhafen. Satelberg fell on November 26. When the Americans landed at Saidor on January 2 the retreating Japanese were cut off. The Australians then started a coastal drive to exert pressure on the southern end of ‘the trap, breaking enemy resistance wherever it was encountered.

Although the greater part of th« Australian advance has not been over difficult country, frequent streams cutting across the coastal track impeded progress. Between Sio and Saidor

alone about 60 of such streams had to be crossed. American engineers played an important part in the Australians’ rapid advance by bridging these streams so that supplies could be moved forward.

The successful completion of the Huon Peninsula campaign has given the Allies control of 130 miles of coastline between Finschhafen and Saidor. This has enabled the building of advanced fighter bases for the protection of Allied bombers raiding deep into Japanese-held territory. Sopie commentators expect the next full-scale Japanese resistance to be met near Bogadjim, 56 air miles north-west of Saidor and 15 miles south of the big enemy base at Madang. Bogadjim is the supply centre and roadhead for the enemy forces in the Finisterre Ranges and Ramu Valley. These forces are being hard pressed by other Australians, who are now within 18 miles of Bogadjim. It has been suggested, too, that the Japanese are evacuating Madang, which once held an enemy garrison of 15,000 troops. Reduced Air Activity Air activity reported by General MacArthur’s communique to-day has been on a reduced scale in all sectors. Kittyhawks attacked an aerodrome and the jetty area at Alexishafen (New Guinea) on Tuesday, leaving two parked enemy fighters burning. United States Navy Catalinas destroyed 14 barges near Wewak. Lakunai aerodrome at Rabaul (New Britain) was raided by Solomonsbased planes early on Tuesday. Fires were started. No interception or antiaircraft fire was reported.