FINAL ASSAULT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 6, 2 October 1943, Page 5

FINAL ASSAULT

Australians Round Finschhafen NOW IN POSITION (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received October 1, 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 1. The Australians have eliminated Japanese resistance on the high ground around the Finschhafen base in New Guinea, and are now in a position for the final assault. They captured Kaktikog Spur, which dominates their objective only a few hundred yards away, killing 50 Japanese and forcing the remainder of the defenders to flee. After losing the spur, the Japanese launched three night counter-attacks, all of which were repulsed. Today’s communique from. General MacArthur, announcing this important gain, also reports that an air-lborne force which captured Kaiapit, 00 miles up the Markham Valley from Lae, has advanced 14 miles north-west and seized Wankon. Further north in the Bogadjini area south of the enemy’s base at Madang Allied fighters on Wednesday strafed communications. General MacArthur's bombers also struck at enemy targets in Celebes in the New Britain Islands. In a long-range attack on Poinelaa in the Celebes formation, Catalina flyingboats concentrated on a nickel mining centre which is being worked by the Japanese. They damaged an 8500-ton freighter and two oil barges aud started fires in the wharf and barracks area. Beau-fighters destroyed nine loaded barges off Lolobau Island, New Britain.

The Japanese lost Jt2 Zeros out of a force of 35 which tried to intercept escorted Liberator bombers in an attack on Wednesday on Kahili aerodrome on Bougainville Island in the central Solomons, reports General MacArthur’s communique. In the battle over the airfield Corsair fighters destroyed seven Zeros and ‘Liberators accounted for five. One Corsair was lost. The bombers scored many direct hits and started many fires. Off Choiseul Island fighters strafed and sank a 100-foot boat filled with Japanese troops, and three loaded barges. The enemy base at Vila on Kolombangara Island was attacked by Allied medium torpedo and dive-tbombers. Bivouac areas were pounded and hits scored, on seven gun positions. Many large fires were started.