FINSCHHAFEN TAKEN BY AUSTRALIANS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 7, 4 October 1943, Page 5

FINSCHHAFEN TAKEN BY AUSTRALIANS

Third Important Base To Fall In Three Weeks (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received October 3, 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 3. The Japanese base at Finschhafen, on the Huon Peninsula of New Guinea, fell yesterday morning to troops of the Australian Ninth Division, which distinguished itself in the battle of Alamein m Eg^ ay>s cornmunique from General MacArthur reports that all organized enemy resistance has been overcomb, and the entire Finschhafen area is now in our hands. The final onslaught was preceded by an air preparation of the attack and by dive bombing of the enemy’s positions near Kokakog, on the outskirts of the township, following which the Australians took them by assault.

No estimate of the Japanese casualties is yet available, but the heavy and accurate bombing by Allied aircraft is known to have inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. Our casualties have been light. In under three weeks the Japanese have lost three , important coastal bases in New Guinea —Salamaua, Lae and Finschhafen. Australians who stormed Finschhafen from the flank climbed over spurs of jungle so wild and steep that the Japanese defenders obviously considered them impassable, says the official war correspondent, Kenneth Slessor. lhe .A.Lr. men literally cut their way up heights, hacking steps in the mountainside as they went to make the going easier for those following. , „ . Along the tracks they made the Australians carried equipment and supplies forward and wounded back. All the time they fought while their positions were swept by Japanese fire from mortars and machineguns. Another Australian force operating in the Markham Valley, after landing from air'transports near Kaiapit, has a strong grip on the . Inland supply trail linking Huon Peninsula with Madang oil the north-east coast of New Guinea. It has reached the headwaters of the Ramu River, 70 miles from Madang, After advancing for four days without sighting the enemy, .our patrols ambushed 100 Japanese near Kesawai, killing 45 and wounding many others.