POCKET CLEARED OF ENEMY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 101, 23 January 1943, Page 5

POCKET CLEARED OF ENEMY

Gain Near Sanananda DEFIANT JAPANESE TROOPS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn'.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received January 22, 10.50 p.in.) SYDNEY, January 22. The Allied forces are rapidly destroying the remaining Japanese resistance round Sanananda. When one enemy pocket was cleaned out yesterday 150 Japanese were killed, and heavy casualties have also been inflicted on tlge enemy troops defending the other strongpoints.

The Allied gains have been made in spite of adverse ground and weather conditions. Ten inches of rain fell in the area yesterday. In their three remaining dwindling pockets of resistance the Japanese are being attacked from all sides. The largest enemy-held area is the beach front of 150 yards. In Giruwa (the Tarakena area) the enemy troops defiantly hoisted two flags. Australians shot them down, and the Japanese immediately hoisted two larger flags, which were also shot down. American and Australian forces are combining their attacks at this point, where the enemy defences are strongest. Japanese power-driven barges have again been heard moving at night off Sanananda, and two or three may have put briefly in to the shore. The purpose of the visit has not been established.