GENERAL GAINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1943, Page 3

GENERAL GAINS

BY ALLIES ON PACIFIC FRONTS PROGRESS IN THE ISLAND. CAMPAIGNS. JAPANESE GROUPS WIPED OUT. SYDNEY, December 20. Allied troops are advancing on all fronts throughout the combat areas in New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomons. Gains are reported in General MacArthur’s communique today. In spite of their stubborn stands, the Japanese on the coast of the Huon Peninsula, in New Guinea, are being driven steadily northward by the Australians, who are inflicting heavy losses. Torrential rain has turned the sector into a quagmire, and the Sanga River has become a raging torrent. The river swept away a sandbank which formed the escape route for Japanese who were trapped after their latest stand. The isolated enemy force was then wiped out by Australian field-guns. Japanese casualties in the coastal drive are now well over 200. A few miles inland, other Australians advancing north of Wareo, have annihilated enemy pockets of resistance. They drove the Japanese over a steep cliff and then went after them with tommy-guns blazing. In the Ramu Valley, another Japanese force has also suffered heavy casualties. The Australian losses have been light and out of all proportion to those inflicted on the Japanese. One night assault alone on our positions in the foothills of the Finisterre Range cost the enemy 100 killed. The highlight of this attack was a novel breach of security which came when a shrill Japanese voice proclaimed: “White dingoes over there, honourable Japanese gentlemen over here.” Australian machine-gunners were quick to accept this notification of the direction of the attack, and answered with a swift burst of fire. There were shrieks, but no further comment.

“ALL GOES WELL”

GOOD PROSPECTS OPENED.

LONDON, December 20. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright)

“All goes well with the Allied offensive in the Pacific,” says the “Daily Telegraph” in a leading .article. “The Americans’ firm hold on the southern coast of New Britain opens the way for a crushing attack against Rabaul,

the flank fortress on which Japan’s ocean front depends. This is fully realised in Tokio where the war lords issue a warning that the Allies are now in a position to maintain a persistent offensive against Rabaul and are attempting to break down Japan’s strategic structure in the Pacific.

“There could be no clearer hint that Japan’s strength is becoming inadequate to hold Rabaul. Its loss would compel a great oceanic retreat. It would mean that the Japanese Fleet and Air Force must be withdrawn to Truk, which is already threatened by American activity in the Gilberts and the Marshalls.

“When Japan’s island chain of defences is broken, the route through the Philippines to China will be only one of the many new ways of advance at the Allies’ command. Tokio has other fronts., besides., the.. Pacific. Recent news from South-East Asia can bring her no comfort.”

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN TAKING PART IN ATTACK ON NEVZ BRITAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Units of the Royal New Zealand Air Force have been taking part in the new Allied attack on New Britain. Announcing this yesterday, the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones, said that New Zealand Warfiawks had been engaged in fierce fighter actions over Rabaul. “New Zealand’s share in the air war in the South and South-West Pacific has been steadily growing,” said the Minister, “and the R.N.Z.A.F. can today be counted as an important factor in these operations. Apart from our fighter squadrons, which have taken a heavy toll of the enemy, our new attack bomber units have been striking enemy bases with good results. It will not be long before we have divebomber squadrons in action, and our new torpedo-bombers and their crews are now being prepared in the Dominion to join the attack early next year.

“In their latest actions, New Zealand fighters have brought the total score of our Warhawks to approximately 70 aircraft destroyed, with many more damaged and probably destroyed. It is not possible at the present time to give full details of the latest operations, which are still proceeding, but it will be a matter of pride to all New Zealanders that the R.N.Z.A.F. is forming part of the spearhead of the attack.”