FINSCHHAFEN LANDING

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22152, 25 September 1943, Page 5

FINSCHHAFEN LANDING

ABSENCE OF AIR RESISTANCE AMERICAN WARSHIPS’ AID (Received Sept. 25, 1 p m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 25 Australian troops who landed on the beach six miles north of Finschhafen, New Guinea, encountered fiercer resistance than that in the landing near Lae a fortnight earlier. The enemy strengthened the force guarding the beach after the fall of Lae and it was covered from wellmade defence positions with mach-ine-guns, mortars and grenade throwers. Our casualties were officially described as light and considerably fewer than those of the enemy. The landing was considerably aided by American warships which fired broadsides into the foreshore behind the beach, smashing Japanese pillboxes. A bayonet charge wiped out the last pocket of enemy resistance at the beachhead, and one Australian force went inland while another spread along the coast. Enemy resistance may strengthen as the approach to Finschhafen continues. It is possible the garrison at the base has been supplemented by troops who were on the way down to reinforce Lae when it was taken. Hot Reception Expected A remarkable feature of the landing was the absence of enemy aircraft. A hot reception had been expected by the landing force because the Japanese had attempted to bomb the convoy the previous evening. The manifest weakness of the Japanese in the air was a repetition of the landing near Lae. It was probably due in a large measure to the work of Allied airmen in blasting the enemy airfields and maintaining an effective fighter screen. The battle broke when 20 to 30 Japanese bombers, escorted by 30 to 40 fighters, came over as Allied naval units were withdrawing after covering the landing of Australian troops six miles north of the enemy’s base at Finschhafen. Allied fighters intercepted and for 25 minutes dogfights raged at altitudes up to 27.000 feet. The antiaircraft guns of ships in the convoy joined in the action. Not "one ship was damaged and no casualties were suffered. Of the three Allied fignters lost the pilot cf one was saved. More than 6300 Japanese dead have already been counted in the Lae-Salamaua area of New Guinea and final estimates will be very much greater. About 600 of the enemy believed to be scattered in the hills north of Lae are being hunted down. Australian troops, advancing on Finschhafen, have reached the north end of the airfield two miles north of the town, which is now under artillery fire. Japanese resistance is being rapidly reduced.