ATTACK HALTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25589, 17 July 1944, Page 5

ATTACK HALTED

JAPANESE 18TH ARMY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE FOILED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 16. American forces have temporarily halted the attempt by the Japanese 18th Army trapped m the WevvakAitape area of British New Guinea to drive an escape route to the east. Severe fighting occurred in the Drimiumor River valley, about 20 miles east of Aitape, on Wednesday. Following this engagement, the Americans buried 268 abandoned enemy dead. The latest reports indicate that the Japanese units have been forced to reorganise and that their efforts to thrust forward have not yet been renewed. The initial enemy drive crossed the Drimiumor River, but when the Japanese encountered the major American resistance their assault was blunted and its progress halted. In their defence positions the Americans have made use of favourable terrain, which includes swartps and thick jungle. Meanwhile the Japanese attempts to regroup are being harassed by Allied sea and air blows. Destroyers went into action on Thursday against enemy coastal traffic and fired five-inch shells against inland positions. Aircraft continue to make damaging attacks. The collapse is reported of Japanese resistance in the Sarmi-Maffin area of Dutch New Guinea. Sawar, the third enemy-held airfield in the sector, was occupied on Wednesday without opposition, and General MacArthur’s headquarters reports that the Japanese are now apparently trying to withdraw the remnants of their forces overland to the west. South-west Pacific air blows reported during the week-end include a heavy raid on Boela, in Ceram, an important enemy petroleum centre. Widespread damage was done to storage areas, derricks, and installations. Burning oil from ruptured tanks on high ground flowed through. the lower areas, enveloping the r whole target in flames. In the latest raid on Yap, in the Western Carolines, Liberators shot down two of 15 intercepting enemy fighters, with three others probably destroyed.