SUPPLY TRAIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1943, Page 4

SUPPLY TRAIL

VITAL TO THE JAPANESE IN NEW GUINEA CUT BY AUSTRALIANS. ENEMY DEFENCE OF SATELBERG WEAKENED. (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) SYDNEY,. This Day. Australian troops have cut an important supply trail to the Japanese garrison at Satelberg, the last enemy stronghold on the Huon Peninsula, in New Guinea. This trail runs north-east from Satelberg to Bonga, on the coast about seven miles north of the Alliedfield Finschhafen. A.I.F. troops marched 8,000 yards through mountains and heavily wooded country to cut the trail. Their action is expected to shorten the

Japanese resistance. Stubborn fighting is reported southwest of Satelberg, where the main Australian forces are within half a mile of the township. An outstanding feature of the campaign has been the almost insignificant number of A.I.F. casualties in relation to the number of troops committed. The use of tanks and the co-operation of the Air Force and artillery in heavy bombardments- have been responsible for this.

Without tanks, say war correspondents in the area, the swift Australian gaips would have been impossible against the strongly-defended Japanese positions. An important arm of the enemy’s defence, his artillery, is gradually being knocked out as his guns are pinpointed and silenced by a sudden salvo of our shells. Bulldozers are now working on the main track in the area making it “Jeepable.” Until now native 'bearers and Australian troops have had to manhandle their supplies up a precipitous trail and the construction of a road passable by Jeeps will greatly ease supply problems.