VICTORIOUS A.I.F.

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 13, 11 October 1943, Page 5

VICTORIOUS A.I.F.

60-Mile Advance In Ten Days

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received October 10, 8.20 p.m.)

SYDNEY, October 10. The victorious Australian troops in New Guinea are advancing along the Ramu River valley so rapidly that Japanese forces, •which at first were able to keep 24 hours ahead in their helter-skelter retreat, are being caught by our spearheads. The Australians are now entering the foothills of the Uria River valley, and have passed Kesawai, 45 miles south of the important Japanese base of Madang. From their starting point at the Australians have advanced more than 60 miles in 11 days. To reach Kesawai they pushed on la miles from Durnpu, the occupation of which was announced last Thursday. Dumpu has an old civil air strip. The next stage facing the Australians is of 12 miles A®? J which till recently was the terminal or a motor road from Bogadjim. • However, the Japanese are believed to have developed the road beyond that point- IMS road links Bogadjim with Madang and has been an important factor in we enemy’s coastal supply system. It is, however, narrow and sinuous and may easily be capable of temporary blocking. When the retreating Japanese in the Ramu Valley took to the foothills the main Australian force did not attempt to follow. It was realized that the Japanese were a beaten army and that any early delaying actions would be foredoomed to failure, and therefore only small Australian “feelers” were sent out to harry and destroy, while our main force rolled on unimpeded.,. Increasing Confidence.

War correspondents in the area continue to give heartening reports of the Australian progress and declare that the Japanese must be dismayed at the jeeps and field-guns rumbling in the wake of our advancing forces. The enemy has never succeeded in getting vehicles or artillery into the Ramu River valley. Though stiffening resistance has been anticipated as the Japanese bases become directly threatened, our forces are report- 1 ed to be increasingly confident of their man-to-man superiority over the enemy. General MacArthur’s relentless drive, in New Guinea has now seen Salamaua fall in 75 days. Lae in 12 days and Finschhafen in 3,0 days. Bogadjim is 150 air miles north-west of Salamaua.

The main honours in the recent fighting have been shared between the Seventh and Ninth A.I.F. Divisions.

The Sydney “Sun” war correspondent says that conditions of unbelievable hardship in the latest heavy fighting round Finschhafen lead to the conclusion that the best fighter in New Guinea is the soldier up to 25 years of age. “For. the soldier in early middle age,” be writes, “too often the pack becomes too heavy and the pace too hot.”