Lorengau Aerodrome Captured

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 65, 20 March 1944, Page 5

Lorengau Aerodrome Captured

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.! (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Sunday, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, March 19. American troops have captured Lorengau airfield and are now fighting m Lorengau village, Admiralty Islands. The final rout of the Japanese in the group is under way. Tanks are being employed to smash the remaining enemy opposition. Lorengau is the main Japanese base in the Admiralties and its capture will greatly strengthen Allied offensives against both Rabaui (New Britain) and Truk (Carolines). The enemy garrison is expected to put up a strong fight at Lorengau but the attackers have over whelming superiority of sea and air as well as ground forces Allied destroyers in Steadier harbour are shelling the Lorengau town area. The airfield was captured on Thursday with American tanks smashing a way for the infantry. The tanks rumbled straight up to enemy pillboxes, blasting them to mins. After the perimeter defences around the field were overcome, the Americans met only fire from snipers. The capture of Lorengau and the neighbouring Momote airfields opens the way for shuttle bombing of the main Japanese Central Pacific base of Truk. By Using these fields American bombers will be able to fly the 650 miles north of Truk and then a further 750 miles northeast to the United States bases in the Marshalls Group. The tempo of the sustained aerial assaults against Rabau) (New Britain) and Kavieng (New Ireland) can also be stepped Up. Around Rabaui the Allies now have air strips in the Admiralties (370 miles northwest), on the north coast of New Britain (170 miles southwest), on Green Island (120 miles east) as well as in New Guinea and the Solomons. In the latest raids on Rabaui made on Wednesday and Thurs day by Solomons-based aircraft more than 200 tons of bombs were dropped on VunakanaU and Tobera aerodromes. Supply areas were heavily pounded, buildings demolished and waterfront installations damaged. Objectives in New' Ireland have also been hit Hellcats destroyed six enemj barges.