PRISONERS, TO KILLED
Unusually High Proportion In New Guinea MOPPING-UP CONTINUES (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received May 14, 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 14. The Japanese killed on the Hol-landia-Aitape sector in northern New Guinea now total 1716. The number captured, has reached the unprecedented total of 354. This is easily the highest tally of Japanese prisoners taken on any Pacific front. Patrols from the American forces who landed at Hollandia and Aitape are continuing their mopping up operations. This particularly high proportion of the prisoners to the killed is reported by General MacArthur’s latest communique, which says that in pursuing the enemy base and supply troops who fled inland after the Allied landings the. Americans have killed a further 101 and captured 30 of the Japanese remnants. Two main enemy air bases within striking distance of Hollandia —Wakde Island and B'iak Island—are being . steadily smashed by General MacArthur s 'bombers. Wadke Island, 110 miles west of Hollandia, was blasted in a devastating attack made by Liberators and Mitchells on Thursday. Carrying a 150-ton bomb load the raiders scored repeated hits on the airfield, anti-aircraft batteries and supply and defence areas. Last Sunday, Wadke was hit with 295 tons of bombs in a 100-plane attack. Work of Heavy Bombers. Further to the west other Liberators on Thursday and Friday renewed their assault on Mokiner aerodrome, Biak Island, and Geelvink Bay, starting fires in the dispersal areas in four separate night and day faids. No Japanese fighter opposition was met, but one Allied plane was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, the crew being saved. On the south-west coast of Dutch New Guinea. Mitchells bombed the Wissel Lakes sector and Timikia airfield. Small lake craft, the radio station, and gun positions were destroyed. To the north of Australia other Japanese airfields on Timor, B'uru, and Ainboina Islands have been targets for night bombing attacks. The- attack on Truk by South-West Pacific Liberators, made oh Wednesday, is now revealed as one of the heaviest yet launched from this area into the Carolines. Nearly 100 tons of bombs were dropped on warehouses and the township at Dublon Island, and on hangars and repair shops at Eten Island. The Liberators fought a 35-minute battle against 30 Japanese fighters. The air battle began over the Truk atoll ami continued for 100 miles. Six enemy fighters were shot down and two more probably destroyed. One Liberator was lost. Because the distance from the Solomons is too great fop a-fighter escort, the Liberators attacking Truk fly in close-packed formation, presenting a solid wall of fire to fighters approaching from any direction. Australian troops driving up the New Guinea coast are now 30 miles beyond Madang, having reached the Megiar plantation, five miles north-west of Cape Croiselles. No enemy opposition to the advance has been reported.
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Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 194, 15 May 1944, Page 5
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469PRISONERS, TO KILLED Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 194, 15 May 1944, Page 5
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