BEATEN BACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1943, Page 3

BEATEN BACK

JAPANESE THRUST NEAR MUBO

CLASH IN NEW GUINEA.

ENEMY LOSS 100 KILLED OR WOUNDED. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 23. Australian ground forces have smashed a strong Japanese thrust near Mubo, the inland defence outpost for the enemy’s north New Guinea base of Salamana. More than .100 Japanese were killed or wounded. Our losses are described as light.

This was the fiercest land fighting in New Guinea since the Japanese made their abortive drive on Wau late last January. The action followed reports of greatly intensified enemy air activity over the Mubo area. The Japanese used dive-bombers and fighters to attack Allied ground positions, while General MacArthur’s Boston attack planes struck heavy coun-ter-blows. Allied forces hold three sides of Mubo village, with the Japanese having disputed access along the trail to the north Mubo village itself has been practically wiped out by repeated aii’ attacks and is a “no man's land.” An airstrip is situated in flat country in Japanese hands. It is officially stated that the forces engaged in the clash reported today were stronger han those involved in recent patrol actions. Japanese troops drove against Australian positions on Labadia ridge. Their attack was repulsed with severe losses and the retreating enemy was strafed by Boston attack planes operating over the Pimple and Buigap Creek area further to the north.

In spite of continued patrol actions, the ground position in this area has remained static since last February, following the enemy retreat from Wau. Recently, opposing forces have been engaged in a "booby trap" war. The noise of booby traps being set off can be heard all night. Sometimes the traps are sprung by rotting branches or falling trees and others by wild pigs. DAMAGING RAID ON ENEMY SEAPLANE BASE. JAPANESE AIR LOSSES OVER DARWIN. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 23. In the air, the Allied forces yesterday struck strongly in the Aru Islands, north of Australia. Beaufighters attacked the Japanese seaplane base at Taberfane, two aircraft and a barge being destroyed and a lugger damaged. Two intercepting enemy fighters were also damaged. Liberators took up the attack and were intercepted by five enemy machines, one bf which was destroyed and two were damaged. It is revealed today that the lone Flying Fortress which was attacked by 15 Zeros over the northern Solomons on June 16, shot down five enemy fighters and damaged others. The injured members of the crew are now sufficiently recovered to give details of the encounter.

According to estimates, 105 Japanese aircraft have now been shot down over Darwin since the enemy made his first raid on the area on February 19 last year. Throughout the Northern Territory, 111 Japanese planes have been destroyed, 29 probably destroyed and 43 damaged. Till Spitfires arrived, Darwin was protected by American Kittyhawks which left behind a record of 29 bombers and 44 fighters shot down, seven bombers and 10 fighters probably destroyed, and 12 bombers and six fighters damaged. The Spitfire figures are 13 fighters and 19 bombers shot down, 11 fighters probably destroyed and 11 bombers and 16 fighters damaged. - :