CHOISEUL CLEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 22, 26 July 1945, Page 7

CHOISEUL CLEAR

CAMPAIGN !N SOLOMONS

SYDNEY, July 25

With the Bougainville campaign nearing its climax, Australian troops in the Solomons have cleared the last of the Japanese from the large island of Choiseul, sealed off; a large body of Japanese troops in north Bougainville, and laid siege to Bum, the "double fortress" area in the south, j These developments, after nine months of fighting, mark the beginning of the end of the campaign, which the Army Department in a review today said had "brought new battle, honours td Australian troops and! established new standards in jungle warfare." - The message reporting the clearing of Choiseul, the 12,000 square mile island south-east of. Bougainville, was brief: "Choiseul is safe for democracy," it said. It ' came from the leader of a small force which had been harrying the enemy there for months. Mainly because he needed trpops for the Bum fortress, but no doubt encouraged by the Australian ground and New Zealand Air Force air attacks, the enemy withdrew the last of his garrison a fortnight ago, leaving hundreds of men buried along the island s swampy coastline. Meanwhile the Australian troops on the Mivo front are facing the outer defences of Bum, where the mam battle for Bougainville will be fought. Since taking over from the Americans last November the Australian troops in Bougainville have regained control of 3000 square miles of territory which was held by Australia under mandate since 1918. They have freed 10 000 natives and killed 6000 Japanese. Uncounted thousands of Japanese have also died in the bombing attacks and from wounds and sickness.