GRENADE DUELS AT 20 YARDS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 19, 18 October 1943, Page 6

GRENADE DUELS AT 20 YARDS

Fierce Skirmishes In Valley

AUSTRALIANS PRESS ONWARD

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. Copyright.) (Deceived October 17, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 17. Hemmed in on three sides of a rugged mountain top, an Australian force last Thursday killed nearly 100 Japanese in one of the fiercest skirmishes of the liamu campaign in north-eastern New Guinea. The Australians were outnumbered, and at the end of the day when the Japanese were finally repulsed their carefully-rationed ammunition was al- ‘ most exhausted. Grenade duels were fought at 20 yards range. The enemy casualties, apart from those killed, are 'believed to have been heavy. The Japanese carried off their wounded when they withdrew at night to 6000 feet on the Finistere range, which runs parallel to the -New Guinea coast, The Japanese continue to fight determined rearguard actions as they retreat down the ißamu Valley toward Madang. General MacArthur’s headquarters has. announced that the Australians have killed 407 Japanese since they began their drive from Kaiapit on September 21. To delay o’ur advance the Japanese have blown up -bridges across, the tributaries of the Kamu -Diver. Patrol, clashes are occurring in the foothills rising from the beds of the Uria and Faria rivers, north and north-west of iDumpu, which the Australians captured more,than a week ago. Dumpu is only 50 air miles from Madang, now the most advanced Japanese base in New Guinea. Our troops continue to make progress. . . . Allied fighters in direct support of ground- forces have strafed the. Japanese forward area. Continuing their attacks on the enemy’s coastal supply route our medium bombers dropped' 3'o tons of bombs and thoroughly strafed enemyoccupied villages from Sio to baidor. Allied air forces in the -South-west Pacific have followed up their smashing attack on -Dabaul by smaller-scale assaults on other enemy airfields and bases throughout the -South-west Pacific area. General MacArthur’s communique on Saturday reported that '-bombing and strafing attacks were made at 12 points from New Ireland to Timor,. while today’s communique reports raids on five widely dispersed objectives.