ANOTHER SUCCESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 September 1943, Page 3

ANOTHER SUCCESS

GAINED BY AUSTRALIAN AIRBORNE TROOPS IMPORTANT ADVANCE IN NEW GUINEA POINT SEIZED BETWEEN LAE & MADANG. JAPANESE COUNTER-ATTACKS REPELLED. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, September 22. Australian airborne troops in New Guinea have seized Kaiapit. in the upper Markham Valley. 60 miles from Lae. and about 80 miles from the important -Japanese northeast coast base at Aladang. The Australians were flown on Monday to a field some distance from Kaiapit ami, soon after landing, were in action against the Japanese, who launched several counter-at-tacks before being forced to retire. The seizure of Kaiapit, which is reported .in General MacArthur’s communique today is an obvious extension of the Lae operation, following the capture of the base. Kaiapit, which Has an airfield, was one of the advanced Japanese outposts and the headquarters for the central area between Lac and Madang. The enemy has been for many months constructing a road from Madang to this area. At the same time, Allied aircraft heavily attacked the enemy’s line of communication south of Madang and aerodromes at Wewak. More than 50 heavy and medium bombers with fighter cover carried out a raid on Madang. Fifty-four tons of bombs were dropped and 120,000 rounds of machinegun ammunition poured out in numerous sweeps along the road which leads into the Markham Valley. Direct hits destroyed four of the principal bridges, three others being damaged. The road itself was heavily hit. The raiders also destroyed or damaged between 20 and 30 trucks, demolished a warehouse, set huts on fire and sank two barges. No enemy fighters attempted interception and all the planes returned to their base, though three were damaged by anti-aircraft fire. ATTACK ON AERODROMES. The aerodromes at Wewak and Boram nearby took a pounding from our escorted neavy bombers, which concentrated 43 tuns of explosives in the dispersal areas and revetments. At Boram, one enemy aircraft was destroyed by a direct hit and numerous fires were started al both aerodromes, indicating burning aircraft and fuel dumps. An attempt to intercept our planes was made by seven enemy fighters, two of which were snot down. Japanese planes are attempting to interfere with the exploitation of Allied gains in the Lae area. Nadzab, in the Markham Valley, which was captured by the Allies as a preliminary to the drive on Lae, was raided by nine enemy bombers, escorted by 16 lighters. Lightnings intercepted before and during the raid and shot down three enemy machines and probably a fourth for the loss of one of ours. The bombers caused only minor damage and casualties. SOLOMONS OPERATIONS. The Japanese lust 15 dive-bombers and five fighters in a daylight raid on Monday on American positions at Barakoma, on Vella Lavella island, in the central Solomons. Admiral Halsey's fighters intercepted a raiding force of 30 dive-bombers, covered by 20 lighters, and in a running battle destroyed 12 of the bombers and five lighters for the loss of three of our aircraft. Anti-aircraft fire destroyed three additional bombers. Guadalcanal positions were raided at night by three enemy planes which caused slight damage and casualties. Allied medium torpedo and divebombers attacked enemy gun positions on Kolombangara Island. An ammunition dump was destroyed and large fires were started. The American forces on Arundel Island, between Kolombangara and New Georgia, are meeting stubborn Japanese resistance in the northern corner of the island, where the enemy is pinned down. An attempt by the Japanese to strengthen their positions by bringing in reinforcements in barges was largely frustrated by our fire. _______