AT CLOSE QUARTERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1943, Page 3

AT CLOSE QUARTERS

ALLIES PRESSING IN ON LAE & SALAMAUA bombing and bombardment OF ENEMY DEFENCES. ADVANCE THROUGH SWAMP & JUNGLE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) ‘ SYDNEY, September 10 Allied drives against the Japanese bases at Lae and Salamaua, in New Guinea, are developing rapidly. Advancing through difficult country after landing north of Lae last Saturday, Australian troops have reached the Busu River, two miles from Malahang aerodrome, where the enemy may make a “last ditch stand. Artillery is being rushed up to blast the Japanese defences. Australian reinforcements and equipment continue to reach Nadzab airfield to strengthen the force which is pushing down the Markham Valley, I north-west of Lae. Advance units are already approaching the enemy’s main defences. The continuous and concentrated bombing of Lae is believed to have reduced the main fortifications almost to ruins, to have wiped out artillery, destroyed or disrupted installations and inflicted heavy punishment on the the garrison. On the Salamaua front, Allied ground forces are continuing their pressure. Naval units have bombarded the water-front area of the enemy's base and the defences are taking a terrific pounding from the air. General MacArthur's latest communique reporting these rapid devel- • opments says: “Our north-eastern forces are at Busu River, within two miles by air of Malahang airfield at • Lae. Terrain difficulties of advance ' through jungue and swamp are great, j “Oui’ western forces are building up strength and pushing advanced ele- ! ments forward. They have passed 1 through Munum and Narakapo and are approaching the main western bastion 1 of the enemy’s prepared positions at Heath’s plantation. “Our southern forces continue pressure on the Salamaua front. Our escorted heavy and medium bombers concentrated 73 tons of bombs on the perimeter defences, while our attack units bombed and strafed the Markham Valley road. At Salamaua our attack planes bombed and strafed the coastal trail. WARSHIPS IN ACTION. < “At night our naval surface units ( bombarded the waterfront, shooting ( down two certain and one probable c enemy planes which attacked.” i Since the original clash between the < landing party and 30 Japanese, and the ’j later meeting with 100 of the enemy ( at Singaua plantation, A.I.F. troops ‘ have encountered only small patrols, 3 says an Australian war correspondent. He adds: “The Japanese have been inactive in the air and there are still no reports of artillery being used against our men The Bustf River, which stands between the Australians and the enemy in this sector is wide and shallow in some places. So far there have been no reports of any Japanese attempt to hinder the crossing.” American transport pilots have maintained a ceaseless ferry service to Nadzab airfield. All day transports discharge troops and equipment and Flying Fortress bombers are also con- , stantly over the area, dropping stores ■ and ammunition by parachutes. ; There has still been no contact with < the Japanese in the Nadzab sector. A ■ patrol reported coming on an enemy , camp some miles from Nadzab. It had been evacuated so suddenly that washing was still damp on the line. Officers had fled leaving behind all their equipment. GREAT OIL BLAZE. General. MacArthur’s communique reports an attack on Wednesday by Allied heavy bombers on the aerodrome and waterfront areas at Babo, in Dutch New Guinea. Extensive damage was caused and numerous large fires were started, including an oil : blaze from which billowing smoke rose thousands of feet. Eight enemy < fighters were airborne but avoided ' combat. Allied night reconnaissance units off : Cape Saint George, New Ireland, damaged a 7000-ton enemy cargo ship and i a submarine-chaser. ; The main air attacks in the central Solomons were directed against enemy targets on Kolombangara Island. The • bombers hit barge and supply depots near Ringi Cove, causing fires, and : effectively strafed installations- at Bulo Cove.