NEW DRIVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 275, 20 November 1943, Page 5

NEW DRIVE

BY AUSTRALIAN TROOPS PROGRESS IN NEW GUINEA (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recd. 9.50 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 19. Australian troops have launched a drive against the Japanese perched in hill positions near Satelberg, 10 miles from Finschhafen, on the iiorth-east New Guinea coast. Their offensive, the strongest since the capture of I’inschhafen at the beginning of last month, opened on Wednesday morning. At the end of the first day’s fighting our troops had made considerable progress through mud and difficult jungle country. R.A.A.F. Vultee Vengeance divebombers are supporting the ground Lorces, who are using artillery. This new Australian drive follows a period of skirmishing activity around Satelberg, where the Japanese arc dug in on a peak 3200 feet high. From this vantage point the Japanese arc able to dominate a wide area, and its capture is regarded as vital to the present Allied campaign in New Guinea. Hard fighting is expected to lie ahead. •

To-day’s South-west Pacific headquarters communique announcing the Satelberg offensive, also tells of American gains at Empress Augusta Bay, their beach-head on Bougainville, Northern Solomons. Here the Americans have enlarged the perimeter of their bridgehead several hundred yards in all directions. So far more than 800 Japanese have been killed. Last week the enemy’s fatal casualties were reported to have been 300, inflicted between November 2 (the date of the landing) and November 10. An additional 500 were killed during the week. The total Japanese casualties in the area, including wounded, are believed to be more than 2000.

The Japanese Air Force has been more active in the Northern Solomons. Early on Wednesday morning our shipping was attacked by enemy raiders, three of which were shot down. One small Allied vessel was lost and some casualties were suffered.

Meanwhile the Allied. air forces maintain their incessant attack on Japanese aerodromes and shipping throughout the entire South-west Pacific area. To-day’s communique announces the following damage: “A Japanese 1500-ton cargo ship sunk and a corvette beached, a total loss, in a raid by Dutch-manned Mitchell bombers on the Tenimber Islands; five coastal vessels damaged and two barges sunk off Dutch New Guinea; two coastal vessels damaged off Gasmata, New Britain; four barges sunk and a coastal vessel damaged off Kieta, Bougainville; six Japanese planes shot down over Wewak, northeast New Guinea, when a strong force of Zeros were encountered by our Lightning fighters, two of which were lost; enemy airfields at Buka, Northern Solomons, damaged by 60 tons of bombs and by shelling from our naval units, probanly destroyers.”