IMPORTANT GAIN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 226, 21 June 1944, Page 5

IMPORTANT GAIN

American Infantry On Biak Island STUBBORN DEFENCE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received June 20, 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 20. Supported by Sherman tanks, American infantry on Biak Island, Dutch New .Guinea, made an important gain on 'Saturday. In the face of stubborn Japanese resistance, tihey captured a ridge which dominates difficult terrain. West of this newly-won position lies the enemy-held Borokoe airfield, toward which the Americans are driving. The country between the ridige and the airfield is less formidable than thta already overcome and affords the Japanese fewer opportunities for strong defensive stands. The enemy lost 165 killed in Saturday s action, bringing the total of their known dead in the Biak campaign to 1820. Today’s South-west Pacific communique also reports that Javanese, formerly members of the Netherlands East Indies Army, have been freed from the Japanese. . In 18 days since the capture of Owi Island, just off the south coast of Biak, an American engineering unit has constructed an airstrip which is already in use. Supporting the American invasion of the Mariannes, General MacArthur’s bombers have again pounded Japanese installations at Truk, specially ou the islands of Dublon, Eten, and Parani. Twenty-five fighters intercepted the attacking Liberators, 12 of the enemy machines being shot down. Two Liberators were lost. Another Allied plane was lost over Rabaul, where Liberators, Dauntlesses, Avengers and Mitchells kept up a relentless smashing of the enemy base by dropping 105 tons of bombs on the Rapopo, Vunakanau and Tobera airfields.