NEW GUINEA FIGHTING

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22151, 24 September 1943, Page 5

NEW GUINEA FIGHTING

AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS BEACHHEAD ESTABLISHED (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) SYDNEY, Sept. 23 Australian troops, with naval and air support, have landed six miles north of the Japanese base of Finschhafen, on the Huon Peninsula, New Guinea. The landing was made at dawn on Tuesday on a sandy beach south of the Song River, where a strong beachhead was established. Japanese troops are reported to have opposed the landing. Today’s communique from General Mac Arthur, announcing the landing, I reports an attempted attack the pre- | vious evening by enemy bombers on j Allied shipping off Hopoi, on the Huon Gulf. This was probably part I of the convoy bound for Finschhafen. i Allied fighters dived on the enemy I formation, destroying four bombers I and' probably a fifth, and five of the | escorting fighters. One of our | planes was lost. , The capture of FinschHhfen would strengthen the Allied control of the vital Vitiaz Strait, between Huon Peninsula and the southern tip of New Britain. Finschhafen’s importance lies mainly in its deepwater harbour. With a coastal belt of flat grassland, the whole area is easy to traverse. The airfield two miles north of Finschhafen was last reported to be unserviceable. It had been used by the Japanese in the past, although never extensively. Japanese Force Flees

The communique also reports that Australian air-borne troops, who captured Kaiapit, in the Upper Markham Valley, New Guinea, routed an attack by a Japanese patrol 200 strong. After losing 120 killed the remainder of the enemy force fled. Japanese communications south of their base at Madang, on the northeast coast of New Guinea, were again heavily attacked by General MacArthur’s escorted bombers, which encountered no enemy air opposition. Forty-six bombing and strafing passes were carried out and four more bridges were destroyed or seriously damaged. A jetty was wrecked and bivouacs and supply installations heavily bombed and strafed.

Allied heavy bombers without loss attacked the aerodrome and dispersal areas at Cape Gloucester, on the western end of New Britain. The bomb load of 66 tons was well concentrated on the target. On the south coast of New Britain the airfield at Gasmata was raided at dawn by medium and attack bombers. Heavy bombers on reconnaissance over the Bismarck Sea sank a 1500-ton freighter north of Garove Island. In the Solomons sea a 5000ton enemy merchantman was bombed and set on fire.