EARLIER GAINS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 98, 20 January 1943, Page 5

EARLIER GAINS

Garrison Split Into Three Parts

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

(Special Australian Correspondent.) (lleceived January 19, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 19.

New gains in the Sanananda area and the sinking of an 8000-ton Japanese merchantman in the Bismarck Sea are reported in General MacArthur's communique today. The vessel was attacked by our heavy bombers north of New Ireland. It received two direct hits, burst into flames and sank within eight minutes. Liberators made a further attack on the Japanese shipping concentration at Habaul, but glare from searchlights prevented observation of the results. Our air offensives yesterday xreie on the recent broad scale, covering several enemy bases. The Japanese defensive positions at Sanananda arc being steadily reduced. Australian troops yesterday captured Cape Killertion and Wye Point in a drive along the coast. . 2 A steady increase in the tempo of the Allied land offensive has been evident during the past week. , On Sunday American infantrymen split the Japanese defenders of the Sanananda area into three isolated pockets, which may be liquidated singly. This success was quickly followe<l up. but fierce fighting took place before Killertion and wye were cleared of the enemy. 'Jhe first position is about 1700 yards from the sea terminal of the Sanananda trail, and second 700 yards nearer this objective. The remaining divided Japanese positions total not more than 2500 yards in length, and this is also their greatest depth. “Underground Village.’’

It is apparent that tire Allied offensive to root out the last enemy troops in Papua is now well under way. The “Sydney Sun’s” correspondent today describes the Japanese defences in the Killerton area as among the most elaborate he has seen. “It was like an underground village.” he writes, “and had trenches radiating for big distances from central pill-boxes in which the Japanese lived. It commanded excellent fields of fire and was a model fortress.” More land fighting has occurred round Mubo, 15 miles inland from Salamaua, where Australian jungle troops last ween made the heavy raid in which they killed more than 250 Japanese and destroyed a headquarters building and a radio station. Forty more casualties were inflicted on the enemy in the recent skirmishes, while our attack planes, supporting the jungle troops, imide strafing runs along the trail from Salnmaua to Komiatum. Strong forces of Beaufigbters and Mitchell medium bombers again raided Lae, which is the target of daily attacks. An enemy fighter on the ground was destroyed and fires were started among supply dumps and installations. Targets at Madang and Finschhnfen and the aerodrome at Gasmata were again raided.