RING CLOSED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1943, Page 3

RING CLOSED

ROUND JAPANESE AT LAE & SALAMAUA LANDING OF ALLIED' PARATROOPS FEAT WITHOUT PRECEDENT IN PACIFIC. ENEMY FORCE OF 20,000 MEN, TRAPPED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, September 7. Allied paratroops without opposition landed in force on Sunday behind the Japanese at Lae and Salamaua, trapping forces which are estimated at 20,000. This new operation, following upon the landing by Australian troops north of Lae on Saturday, is reported in General MacArthur’s latest communique, which says: “We have closed the ring at Lae and Salamaua in a comprehensive air movement. Our paratroops in force have seized the western inland approaches along the Markham Valley. “The operation completely surprised the enemy’s ground troops engaged on the north and eastern flanks of our encircling forces which had landed yesterday. Elements of four Japanese divisions, aggregating perhaps a maximum strength of 20,000 at the beginning, are now enveloped, with their supply lines cut. “Simultaneously, our heavy bombers attacked a heavily fortified position at Heath’s Plantation, the main northern bastion protecting Lae, with 94 tons of 10001 b bombs reducing the position to ruins Our attack bombers combed the Markham Valley with fragmentation bombs, and over 60,000 rounds of ammunition, silencing artillery positions and destroying installations at Gabsonkek. Munum, Waiu, Narakapor and Labu Island” AIR ARMADA DROPPED. The paratroop landing means that the Japanese have now lost every means of escape except by sea. Previously they had an inland line open, by which they could possibly have escaped from the Allied infantrymen, but that line led only to an inland wilderness. Any attempt at escape by sea might be suicidal in view of the overwhelming superiority of the Allied air and naval strength in the area. General MacArthur personally led the paratroops to the target, and he watched the landing from his Flying Fortress. Not a single enemy plane attempted to interfere with the greatest air armada that has ever been assembled in the South-West Pacific. A report via London states that the paratroop force used was one of the greatest ever employed in any theatre of war. This was the first time paratroops have been used in force in New Guinea. The troops employed were mainly Americans with Australian artillerymen who jumped with dismantled field guns achieving a feat never before attempted in the Pacific. The artillery paratroop section was formed only two weeks ago, and the men had a few rehearsals. Many of the Americans were veterans of 50 jumps or more.

Boston attack bombers laid a smokescreen before the landing operation, which was completed in 10 minutes. The communique does not mention progress by the troops who landed north of Lae, but says that the pressure is continuing against Salamaua to the south.

In combination with the increasing pressure against the Japanese in New Guinea, Allied bombers on Sunday attacked enemy aerodromes, shipping and barge hide-outs in New '’lreland and New Britian.