BEATEN BACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 May 1943, Page 4

BEATEN BACK

IN SPITE OF STRONG AIR SUPPORT JAPANESE IN NEW GUINEA ATTEMPT TO REPEL THREAT TO SUPPLY LINE. (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day, Japanese land forces on Saturday attempted to break the Allied siege of Mubo, the main enemy defence outpost in New Guinea. Raids by strong formations of bombers, dive-bombers and fighters were made to cover ground attacks aimed at dislodging the Australians from their Bobdubi positions, astride the supply trails linking Mubo, Komiatum and Salamaua. Supported by strong mortar fire, Japanese troops attacked in some force in the Bobdubi bridge area, but they paid heavily for little ground gained. It is estimated that 60 Japanese were killed and many more wounded. The latest reports state that the Australians are counter-attacking and that a seesaw battle is in progress. The enemy dive-bombing was concentrated on the Kunda, or Bobdubi bridge, a rough structure over the swift-flowing River Francisco, and on our troop positions in the area. Most of the bombs exploded harmlessly in the jungle and Australian casualties are reported officially to be "very slight.” Australian patrols from Bobdubi have been playing havoc with the Japanese supply columns and the enemy’s combined land and air attacks represent a very serious effort to drive the Australians out of the Bobdubi area. However there is no indication at present that the Japanese activity presages anything more than an attempt to remove a threat to their Mubo supply line.