3000 Killed or Wounded in All-night Battle

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 53, 6 March 1944, Page 5

3000 Killed or Wounded in All-night Battle

Destructive Air Raids Over Wide Area (By Telegraph— Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Sunday, 8.30 p.m. SYDNEY, Marcli 5. Violent Japanese counterattacks against the United States forces holding the beachhead on Los Negros (Admiralty island) have been smashed. The enemy losses in the attacks which lasted throughout Friday night are estimated at 3000 killed and wounded, >vhile the Americans lost 61 killed ana 244 wounded. A dramatic stoiy of the bitter fighting is told hy General MacArthur’s communique which says: "Shortly after dusk in a final desperate effort uO restore the situation and regain the key Momote airfield the enemy attacked in a series of continued assaults .asting the entire night. “Again and again his forces hurled themselves against our lines in incessant hut futile efforts to reach the field. Wave after wave was destroyed before nis forces finally recoiled in complete defeat after one of the fiercest encounters of the war. His casualties in dead and wounded are estimated at 3000. Seven hundred of his dead were buried by our men on the western perimeter of the field alone. We lost 61 killed and 244 wounded. Our troops are now preparing to advance. “During the day our naval units had bombarded enemy shore installations at Lorengau and ‘Seadler harbour. In the air our medium and attack units executed close support missions. One of eight enemy fighters attempting to intercept was shot down. ’ ’ Earlier reports indicated the mounting intensity of the Japanese counterattacks which were at first launched in force cn Thursday night when several unsuccessful attempts were made to pierce the American positions on differ ent sectors of the beachhead. Considerable enemy reinforcements had apparently arrived on Los Negros to take part in the attacks. They probably came from Lorengau, the main Japanese base on Manus Island just eight miles to the west.

Although Allied bombers and fighters kept the routes from Lorangau to Los Negros under constant attack the movement of enemy troops was undoubtedly assisted by adverse weather which hindered observation. The American beachhead line on Los Negros covering Momote airfield is about 1000 yards in length and is flanked by water on both sides. Momote airfield was captured within two hours of last Tuesday’s landing at Hyane harbour which it adjoins. The Tokio radio in its English language broadcast said that despite torrential rain heavy fighting had been progressing on Los Negros and that with the arrival of fresh reinforcements the Japanese were preparing to launch a general offensive. It is apparently this reported pending offensive which has been so decisively smashed by General MacArthur’s forces. Earlier the Japanese had made a futile attempt to win aerial supremacy over Los Negros and covering Alltea lighters shot down seven Zeros and probably destroyed four others. Allied bombers shot down another enemy plane. Thunderbolts inflicted the main damage on a superior enemy force. Late reports indicate that heavy ram still shrouds the Admiralties where, amidst the mud, the victorious American forces are preparing to press their advantage against the battered Japanese. “In sharp ground fighting in the Admiralty Islands the American troops alter repulsing further enemy counterattacks improved their positions in all directions,’’ says General MacArthur’s communique. “Medium bombers and attack planes in force bombed and straf ed enemy-held territory in support of our ground troops. Our lighter cover effectively prevented enemy interception, shooting down eight with four probables. Lorengau was also heavily bombed. Eighty-four tons of bombs were dropped on Kahili in Bougainville, and 110 tons of bombs were dropped on the Empress Augusta Bay area north of the Torokina perimeter. ’ ’