DUTCH NEW GUINEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 125, 27 May 1944, Page 5

DUTCH NEW GUINEA

AMERICAN BREAK-THROUGH ANOTHER AIRSTRIP REACHED < B (Special AustrHlian Corra»pondent--N.Z.P.A.) M Recd. 9.35 p.m. Sydney. March 26.1 a? Supported by tanks, artillery and aircraft, the American forces driving from their bridgehead on the Tor River have reached the Maffin airstrip in Dutch New Guinea. They broke through an intensive counter-lire. Japanese 75 m.m. guns caused casualties among the Americans’ medium tanks. It is not yet known whether the Americans have captured the Maffin airfield. They were still under enemy fire when they reached the strip. However, open ground favours the use of tanks, and it is expected that the strip must soon be taken. Supply problems of the Japanese troops in the area have been intensified by the destruction of a bridge across the Woske River, west of the airstrip. Up till Tuesday American casualties in the Wakde Island Sarmi sector were 6f killed, 182 wounded, and three missing. Japanese casualties have been 971 killed and five captured. l American engineers performed a' notable feat in their rapid preparation; d< of the captured Wakde aerodrome. A;tl length of 2500 feet o’ coral .runway; was extended to 6000 feet in d:.ys. Pilots say it is now one of theh r best strips in the South-west Pacific. a] Except in the Lake Sen> ni area, I contact with Japanese remnants Ij s around Hollandia is on a reduced; scale. At Hollandia and Aitape Jana-' r . nese casualties have now reached "J 22.1 ‘ In the Geelvink Bay area. 250. miles west of Wakde Island. Boston bomb-' ers destroyed 19 grounded aircraft! and damaged 12 others in two raids! on the Kamiri and Neomfoor aero-j dromes on Neomfoor Island. Fuel! dumps were set ablaze. i