Strong American Reinforcements for Los Negros

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 52, 4 March 1944, Page 5

Strong American Reinforcements for Los Negros

All Allied Positions Now Secure (By Telegraph—-Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Friday, 10.15 p.m. SYDNEY, March 3. Heavy ground reinforcements were landed in tne Admiralty islands yesterday in support of the American invasion force winch was estabusneu on the beachhead on Los Negros on Tuesday, morning. Although outnumbered the original landing party succeeded in holding its positions in the face of repeated Japanese counterattacks. General MacAxthur to-day reveals that Tuesday'3 operation was designod merely as a reconnaissance in force, but when the Japanese were surprised and outmanoeuvred into dispersed positions the reconnaissance developed into a full-scale penetration. Following yesterday’s arrival of reinforcements ail the Allied positions are secure and the complete occupation of Los Negros island is proceeding. The Tokio official radio admits a now and strong American landing but says the Japanese are counter attacking. The Allied air forces have given close support to the ground troops. Throughout Wednesday outside the battle area our bombers attacked enemy installations and roads over which tne Japanese might have attempted to move in strength to the Momote area. The airfield at Momote is in American hands and the work of reconditioning it for use by Allied planes has already begun. Aerial reconnaissanco has revealed no shipping or plane activity at Lorengau, the big Japanese base on Manus Island within 10 miles of Momote. Allied aircraft have again been particularly active over the entire Bismarck area. Solomons-based fighters sank a troop-laden barge in Nabuto Bay (New Ireland) and destroyed or damaged four more barges and threo small craft aldng the coast. American naval units shelled Cape St. George, Borpop and Namatanai (all in New Ireland), silencing a shore battery at the last-named place. Rabaut (New Britain) and the nearby Duke oi York Island were also shelled. In Rabaul the wharf area and two blocks of buildings were destroyed. A liberator operating off Hollandia (Dutch New Guinea) scored direct bomb hits on a 7000-ton merchantman which was left sinking. This large merchantman was in a convoy with three or four other unidentified vessels. Hansa Bay (Northeast New Guinea) was hit with 170 tons of bombs in a midday attack. The damage was heavy and flames were seen rising 1500 feet At Wewak (Northeast New Guinea) Lightning fighters destroyed a Japanese bomber as it was landing.