NEW GAINS MADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 200, 25 August 1943, Page 5

NEW GAINS MADE

SALAMAUA STRUGGLE ALLIES’ ENCIRCLING MOVEMENT (Special Australian Correspondent— N.Z.P.A.) Recd. 10.40 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 24. Allied land forces have, made import nut new gains in the struggle for Salamaua, Japanese advance base, in New Guinea. Australian troops have crossed the Francisco River at the western approaches to the. airfield, while others are engaged in mopping up enemy stragglers around Komiatum. The capture of Komiatum, announced on Sunday, cut the enemy’s main supply route and threatened tne Japanese garrison with encirclement and annihilation. Our advance across the Francislo River tightens this encircling movement, though heavy country still lies between tne Australians and the airfield. A second Australian force is engaging the enemy in six defensive positions further south along the river bank, while fresh isolated encounters between other Australian and Japanese forces also fl! into the general pattern of the Allied drive for Salamaua. The air-strip against which the Allied advance is mainly directed lies about a mile south of Salamaua township and close to the Francisco River. American troops which landed at Nassau Bay, eight miles south of Salamaua. and Later linked with the Australians moving up the coast, are now within four miles of the air-strip. Allied naval units have joined in increasing the pressure against Salamaua. Light warships last, night struck at the enemy’s rear supply zone at. Finschhafen. Tn this sweep Allied warships, operating for. the first time in the area, bombarded enemy .ships, dork installations and supply dumps. No return fire was recorded. The Allied land forces ar« also receiving close air support. Apart, from the direct attacks on the enemy’s defences our planes are continually patrolling 1h? shores of lhe Hu on Peninsula to prevent tht enemy getting reinforcements or supplies to Salamaua bv sea. Yesterday our aircraft attacked the iFnsch’hafen Marwasa (Rooke Island), and Salamaua areas. War correspondents with the forward troops sav there are signs that Japanese morale is dropping under the cecseless noundinrr from Australian and American artillerv, hut it is thought they may make a stubborn last-ditch stand for Salamaua. Every enemy withdrawal left the Allies in possession of new points that will be extremely valuable in the final asThe last Japanese chance nf retrieving the position at Salamaua was smashed a week ago when Allied planes destroyed the large enemy air arma-da on the ground at. Wewak. In five days Allied bombers and fighters destroyed at least 306 Jananese Planes, nrohahly destroved 11 and r’-m'T-pd t’meo Tim Alfies lost only 11 nlanes in these attacks. General MacArthur’s bombers yesterday made widespread strikes to 11m north of Australia. Continuing them long-range raids on Netherlands Tidies kev-noints, Liberators succcssfullv attacked the aerodrome and town areas at. Kendari, in the Celebes, an ’’mnortant aircraft assemblv base. A flight of nearly 2090 miles was involved. No changes were reported In the ground situation in the Solomons. who”e Allied light, naval units are continuing attacks against Japanese harrrp hide-outs.