ISLAND CAMPAIGN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25866, 9 June 1945, Page 7

ISLAND CAMPAIGN

AUSTRALIAN DIVISIONS STUBBORN OPPOSITION (Rec. 11 p.m.) MELBOURNE, June 8. All the Australian divisions fighting in islands to the north are encountering stubborn Japanese opposition. On Tarakan (North-east Borneo) the Japanese have withstood two air attacks and a determined ground assault on their headquarters area. After Liberators had dropped about 150 bombs, each of 2501 b, on the area, A.I.F. ground forces pushed forward, but found the enemy still holding the position in strength. The Australian Army Department reports that yesterday the Japanese on Tarakan were invited by leaflets to send forward a senior medical officer to discuss the removal of about 300 of their wounded from an area which is a legitimate bombing target. Safe conduct was guaranteed, and a 90-minute truce was ordered by the Australian commander. At the hour of the proposed meeting the Japanese fired two 75-millimetre rounds at the appointed rendezvous, but caused no casualties among a group of Australians waiting there. No Japanese appeared.

Against fairly strong opposition, Australian troops in Southern Bougainville (the Solomons) have forced two crossings of the Peperu River. Tanks were required to silence Japanese ma-chine-gun posts. In New Guinea the fight for dominating positions on high ground behind Wewak is continuing, with the Japanese resisting stubbornly from the heavily bunkered ridges and slopes.