NEUTRALIZING RAIDS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 228, 23 June 1944, Page 5

NEUTRALIZING RAIDS

MacArthur’s Bombers Out

(Received June 22, 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, June. 22. While the invasion of the Mariannes is in progress, General MacArthur’s longrange bombers are maintaining their neutralizing raids on Japanese bases in the Central Pacific. A further attack on Truk, in the Carolines, when Liberators dropped 108 tons of bombs, is reported in today’s South-west Pacific communique. Enemy troop losses since the American force* landed at Hollandia ami Aitape, New Guinea, on April 22, have passed the 5000 mark. The killing ot 267 Japanese and the capture of 24 in recent, scattered patrol actions brings the known enemy casualties in the area Io 5086, including 653 prisoners. The Americans who completed the strategic campaign on Biak Island on Tuesday by capturing the island's last, two enemy-held airfields are now mopping up pockets of resistance. Only comparatively small numbers of Japanese are believed to remain on the island, where the Americans landed on May 27. Much of the garrison's stores and equipment has already been captured. The airfields on Biak will provide valuable springboards for the coming of fensive against the Philippines, the south ern bases of which are within 906 mil'-s West of Biak, Noenifoor Island and Manokwari have again been targets for Allied aerial blows, the destruction including two luggers and ten barges