Important American Move Towards Rabaul

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 56, 9 March 1944, Page 5

Important American Move Towards Rabaul

New Landing on Coast of New Britain t (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Wednesday, u.io p.m. t SYDNEY, March 8. 1 An important Allied move toward L the Japanese base of Rabaul (New Britain) was revealed to-day when ! General MacArthur announced a new landing near Talasea on the Willaiunez Peninsula, 160 air miles southwest of ■ Rabaul. To the north American forces i in the Admiralties have gained comi plete control of Los Negros Island and Momote airstrip is now ready to receive ; Allied planes. In New Guinea further progress has been made in the Allied ; drive towards the Japanese base of Madang. The most dramatic of these land successes reported by to-day’s Southwest Pacific Headquarters’ communique, the landing at Talasea, was made by Marine elements of tbe United States forces moving up the coast from Cape Gloucester. Talasea, on the north coast of New Britain, is 110 miles east ward of Cape Gloucester, where the landing was made on December 26. The routed Japanese troops from the Cape Gloucester area are trapped oy j the new landing, which encountered only light enemy opposition. The Americans have occupied Volupai plantation, five miles northwest of Talasea. Simultaneously with this advance oa New Britain’s northern coast, American patrols on the southern side of the island have pushed 24 miles eastward from their Arawe beachhead to reach Amgoring. The United States force*; landed at Arawe on December 15. From their last week’s landing point near Momote aerodrome on Los Negro* Island in the Admiralty Group, the Americans have driven northward, securing possession of the beach on the west coast of Seeadler harbour on the northwest side of Los Negros. Practically all the usable parts of the island have now been occupied by the Americans and Momote airfield can now be used against the remaining centres of the Japanese in the Admiralties. Reconnaissance planes are already taking off from the field, to observe for the Allied artillery, and it is expectel that airborne supplies and reinforcements will be landed. Allied air unit 3 are systematically blasting any shov; of Japanese strength in the Admiralties, while naval units have destroyed enemy coastal defence guns on Haivwe Island at the northern end of Seeadler harbour. One Allied destroyer moved in to within 800 yards to put two gmi positions out of action. At Porlaka, west of the Momote airfield, American troops are reported to have caoturei 4.7-inch naval guns in a concrete emplacement. Additional reinforcements have arrived to swell the strength of the Americans, who have buried a further 479 Japanese dead. MajorGeneral Innis P. Swift commands the invasion force. Other Americans on the Rai coast of New Guinea have expanded their new nositions eastward and westward from Yalau and have reached Eibi an t Ganglau. The Americans are now within 26 air miles of the Japanese coastal staging point of Bogadjim and 38 miles east of Madang, the main enemy base in this sector. Bogadjim is being used by the Japanese to supply the troops operating in the interior along the upper reaches of the Rainu Valley, where they face the Australians. Tbe position in Rarnu Valley has been static because the difficult nature of the country is restricting organised movement. The American landing at Yalau on Sunday threatens the «Tn cse communications to Eamu Valley and its development may cut the enemy’s supply lines to their forwarrl positions in the Pinisterre ranges. While the American Marines were making the new landing near Talasea (New Eritain), Allied bombers kept the enemy base of Rabaul under day and night attack. The new landing accentuates the threat to Rabaul, v/hich in the face of the relentless Allied sea and air bombardment is rapidly becoming untenable as an operational and sutiplv base. Rabaul township and Tobera aerodrome were struck by 98 tons of bombs in the latest attack, one wharf being damaged by a direct hit. Fires broke out along the water front and five parked Japanese planes were destroyed. Shinning in the bay was attacked, two small merchant vessels being forced back and six barges destroyed. Over Wewak (New Guinea) Allied air patrols shot down three enemy bombers and two fighters in .t. We lost one nlane. Near Madang our air natrols shot down more Japanese fighters.