JUNGLE CLASHES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1943, Page 3

JUNGLE CLASHES

IN NORTHERN NEW GUINEA AUSTRALIANS GRIMLY HOLDING VILLAGE. SOME AIR ATTACKS IN SPITE OF BAD WEATHER. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, May 13. Australian forces continue to hold grimly to Bobdubi, the northern New Guinea village five miles from Salamaua, wsere clashes with Japanese patrols are increasing in violence. Our forces are reported to be in close contact with the Japanese on the outskirts of Bobdubi Village. General MacArthur's communique today reports skirmishing at various points along the Komiatum trail, between Mubo and Salamaua. At Komiatum, five Japanese were killed when an enemy patrol was ambushed. Theer are no reports of the Australian casualties. At Lababia Ridge a small' Allied detachment which was recently reported to have re-established contact with our main forces, after having been cut off by the Japanese, is still fighting. Extremely bad weather continued to the north and air activity yesterday wag limited. Late in the afternoon, Liberators attacked the enemy port of Saumlaki, in Tenimbcr Island, leaving large fires burning. Cape Gloucester; New Britain, was raided twice, once in the early morning in darkness by a Catalina and again in daylight by a Flying Fortress. Gasmata aerodrome was bombed by a Flying Fortress on armed reconnaissance. A Liberator bombed the town area at Salamaua and a formation of Mitchell medium bombers struck heavily at the aerodrome and adjacent installations at Finschhafen. The attack was made in adverse weather, but several Jap-anese-occupied buildings were destroyed.