Objective an Important Airfield

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 64, 18 March 1944, Page 5

Objective an Important Airfield

(By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright » (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Friday, 9.30 p.m. SYDNEY, March 17. American troops l&nded on Manus Island, the largest of the Admiralty Group, early on Wednesday morning and hy nightfall were within half a mile of their main objective—Lorengau airfield. They went ashore from barges under a protective curtain of fire from destroyers and from artillery on Hauwei and Butjoluo Islands, which had been captured the previous day. The landing force, estimated at 1000 strong, suffered only light casualties despite enemy machinegun fire, land mines and booby traps. The bombers which blasted the Japanese positions before the landing are believed to have come from Momoto airfield on Los Negros Island just 12 miles from Lorengau. The Americans went ashore near Lugos mission, about a mile and a-half northwest of Lorengau airfield. Jap artillery and mortar opposition had to be overcome in the advance, which is reported to be continuing. Lorengau, the chief Japanese base in the Admiralties, is also the last important strategic target in the group The Americans already hold Los Negros Island together with smaller islands in Seeadler j&larbour in which Lorengau is situated. In the Northern Solomons the beleaguered Japanese forces on Bougainville Island last Monday made another strong attempt to break through the perimeter defences of the American beachhead at Empress Augusta Bay. Their attack was again repulsed with further heavy losses. The total of enemy dead coimted inside the American perimeter since the beginning of the present series of attacks has now risen to 1173. For the fifth successive day the Japanese base at Wewak (New Guinea) has been heavily pounded by MacArthur’s bombers. More than 140 tons of explosives were dropped in the latest raid, starting fires visible 75 miles away. Five Zeros were destroyed in combat with a sixth probably destroyed. Two Allied planes are missing. In the nearby waters our night ait patrols destroyed or damaged 23 barges and the total of enemy barge losses reported by General Mac Arthur’s communique to-day is 41. Nine barges as well as two harbour craft were destroyed at Rabaul (New Britain) which was hit with a further 173 tons of bombs. More buildings were demolished, large fires started and two shore batteries silenced.