NEW LANDING ATTACKED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 59, 10 March 1944, Page 5

NEW LANDING ATTACKED

FIGHTING IN NEW GUINEA STIFFER RESISTANCE PROGRESS OF PACIFIC WAR (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.l’.A.) Recd. 10.10 p.m. Sydney, March 19. American Marines who landed on Willaumez Peninsula, New Britain, on Monday, are now encountering strong Japanese resistance. Their landing was made against only light opposition, but fresh enemy forces have been moved into position, and their counter-attacks are expected to develop in intensity. This new Allied landing has increased e the threat to Rabaul. 170 miles to the north-east. Despite the stronger enemy pressure, Marines have consolidated their bridgehead. To the north-west, in the Admiralty Island, American troops have smashed a Japanese attempt to land on the west coast of Los Negros Island. An enemy force attempting to come ashore from barges was completely wiped out. The bodies of several hundred additional Japanese dead had been found and buried.

American planes are now using the strategically-important Momote airfield. Use of this airfield will bring the western Caroline Islands within easy Allied bomber range. Meanwhile, the occupied areas of Los Negros are being developed rapidly as a base for further Allied offensive operations. American troops, driving north, are to-day reported to have captured: Papitalai Mission, despite opposition. To do this they had to cro:> Panitalai Harbour, their water hop being supported by a heavy naval bombardment of Japanese batteries on the covering islands in Seeadler Harbour. In New Guinea, Allied ground forces, pushing west along the Rai Coast, have now reached a point 35 miles west of Saidor. Large quantities of Japanese supplies hqve been captured.

North of New Ireland, the air strip on Green Island is now in use by Allied planes. Green Island was captured by New Zealand and American troops last month, and is only 120 miles from Rabaul.

Meanwhile, the daily aerial nounding of Rabaul continues. Following the customary night harassing raids, a strong force of Solomons-based bombers and fighters, in a mid-day sweep, dropped 55 tons of bombs on Dakuai and Tobera aerodromes. Kavieng. New Ireland, was also a target for mid-day attack, 62 tons of bombs being dropped on the aerodrome and waterfront areas. A pier was set on fire and buildings destroyed. It has been officially announced that fighters of the United States sth Air Force yesterday destroyed their 1500th Japanese plane. The command has lost only 134 lives in its two years of combat, and has destroyed more than one-sixth of Japan’s estimated first-line aircraft strength at the beginning of the war.