Successes on All South Pacific Fronts

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 59, 13 March 1944, Page 5

Successes on All South Pacific Fronts

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Sunday, 7.30 p.m. SYDNEY, March 12. Within three days of their landing on Willaumnez Peninsula (Northwestern New Britain) the United States Marines have captured Talasea village and airstrip. The capture of this oaso gives the Allies an advanced airstrip 170 miles southwest of Rabaul and within 200 miles of Kavieng (New Ireland). To capture Talasea the Americans drove straight across the narrow waist of Willaumnez Peninsula. As a result of this push any Japanese still in the northern neck of the peninsula have oeen cut off from the ovenand route. The Marines landed last Monday and Japanese resistance reached its peak on Tuesday. When this was overcome the Marines pushed on towards their objectives against diminishing opposition. They seized the airstrip on Wednesday and on Thursday cleared out the last Japanese around the township. Talasea stands on the sheltered Garua harbour and has potentialities as a patrol torpedoboat base. The use of Talasea airstrip will assist substantially to make Rabaul untenable for Japanese aircraft. This important enemy oase is also threatened from the new Allied airstrips on Green Island 120 miles east and the Momote airstrip in the Admiralties 73 miles northwest. The Allied air forces closely supported the Marines in their final drive on Talasea, bombing and strafing villages in the line of advance. Our light naval units at night sank four troop-laden enemy barges in the area and severely damaged a fifth. The American troops continue to improve their hold on Los Negros Island in the Admiralties. Making another barge hop they have occupied Lombrum Point two miles beyond Papitalai Mission. Allied bombers continue to pound Japanese positions in the group. In the latest attacks 90 tons of explosives were dropped on the Lorengau aerodrome and other coastal targets on Manus Island. JAP ATTACKS DEFEATED The Japanese employed artillery fire for the first time in three months to open their attack on American positions in Empress Augusta Bay (Bougainville Island, Northern Solomons). Then under cover of blinding rain a small enemy party infiltrated inside the American perimeter, blowing up some pillbox defences. This attack is believed to have been part of a major strike which was upset by a United States infantry sergeant who made a lone patrol into the Japanese forming-up area where enemy troops were preparing to attack. Acting on information brought back by the sergeant American artillery poured about 2000 rounds into the area, smashing the Japanese effort. Referring to the enemy’s failure to make an infantry attack against the perimeter defences, the American commander, Major-Gen-eral Hodge, said: “I have been praying for the Japanese to make a frontal assault. Our positions are secure and any Japanese attempt to break through would be suicide.” General MacArthur’s communique today says that 100 enemy dead were left inside the American lines after the night attack had been sharply repulsed. ENEMY SHIPPING LOSSES Four Japanese cargo ships as well as a number of barges and small harbour craft have been sunk in Allied air attacks reported in General MacArthur’s week-end communiques. Two other vessels were forced to beach. The main damage to enemy shipping was inflicted in the Hollandia area (Dutch New Guinea) where Catalinas destroyed two cargo ships of 3000 and 2000 tons respectively. Off Aitape the Japanese crew were forced to abandon one freighter—a transport which was left sinking. Another 1000-ton ship was damaged in the .ame area while at Vanimo nearby a small tugboat was forced ashore and three small craft were sunk. Other Catalinas forced a 2000-ton ship to be beached in Humbold Bay. Off Gasmata (New Britain) an enemy coastal vessel was sunk in a night attack. There has been no let-up in tbe Allied aerial assault on Rabaul (New Britain) where nearly 250 tons of bombs have been dropped in the two latest raids. The general damage is reported to have been severe. Three harbour craft were sunk and two damaged. Our planes encountered no interception.