Classic Example of Sea-Land-Air Cooperation

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 21 March 1944, Page 5

Classic Example of Sea-Land-Air Cooperation

s (By Telegraph —Press Assn.—Copyright.! | (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Monday, 9.50 p.m. i SYDNEY, March 20. a American forces at dusk on Saturday “ captured the Japanese supply and air ' base at Lorengau on Manus Island, thus * completing the Allied occupation of the T vital areas in the Admiralty Group. j Abandoning hundreds of dead the , survivors of the enemy garrison fled \ into the hills to the south of the town , I where they are being pursued by our j troops. ’ | The Americans had to storm their r I way through an elaborate system of ; pillboxes and other fixed defences to * i capture Lorengau. With tanks forms ing the spearhead for the infantry drive * each yard of the final assault wag ; fiercely contested. Nevertheless, the i American losses were light. Large i quantities of Japanese arms, ammuni- ! tion and stores'were captured. Seventyfive enemy bunker defence strongpoints ; I were destroyed. )! Much of the damage was done by I Allied destroyers in Seeadler harbour, i At point blank range the ships blasted ! | the Japanese defences. The Americans invaded the Admiral- ■ ties on February 29, landing on Los 1 Negros Island where they captured Momote airfield within a few hours. What Japanese forces remain in the Admiralties are disintegrated and without a base from which to organise any counter attack. Those who fled from Lorengau face starvation in the hills or extermination by American patrols. A Headquarters spokesman said today that the battle for Lorengau was an example of cooperation between the land, sea and air forces surpassing any previous expedition in the Southwest Facific area.