NET TIGHTENED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 September 1943, Page 3

NET TIGHTENED

*. ROUND JAPANESE AT LAE .AUSTRALIAN SPEARHEAD. WITHIN TWO MILES OF HEART ’ OF TOWN. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, September 16. Further advances by the Allied forces have tightened the net around the Japanese base at Lae, in the Huon Gulf area of New Guinea. The spearhead of the Australian force attacking from the north-east has penetrated to within two miles of the heart of the town, while the main body reached a point a little over a quarter of a mile from the southern end of Milahang airstrip. The crossing over the Busu River is still being shelled by the Japanese, and Australian 25-pounders are blasting the enemy gun positions and defences. Allied troops operating in the Markham Valley, on the west of Lae, have captured centres of resistance at Heath’s and Vernon’s, and are now approaching a plantation “fortress” five miles from Lae. Our medium air units are clearing the way for them by bombing and strafing the valley road. These important new gains in the battle for Lae are reported in General MacArthur’s latest communique.