SWIFT ADVANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1943, Page 4

SWIFT ADVANCE

AUSTRALIANS IN NEW GUINEA SOME SIGNS OF ENEMY DISORGANISATION. COUNTER-ATTACKS SMASHED IN RAMU VALLEY. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, December 15. The speed of the Australian advance northward along the Huon Peninsula coastline in New Guinea has apparently disorganised the retreating Japanese: Parties of enemy stragglers from other sectors on the peninsula wandered into the Australian lines unaware that the Australians have been in occupation of this area for some days. • Our tank-supported forces are steadily closing in on the Japanese barge and supply base at Lakona. On Monday night, Airacobras striking in this area wrecked 10 enemy barges in a coastal sweep, while light naval units destroyed another 12 barges. Two miles inland, another-'Austra-lian column is pushing the Japanese northward along the jungle trails from Wareo, which was captured on December 8. Our advance along the coast threatens to cut off this enemy inland force from possible evacuation points. In an effort to hold our coastal drive, the Japanese have mined tracks and creek crossings. However, bulldozers moving closely • behind the Matilda tanks, which form the spearhead ■of the Australian coastal drive, are quickly on hand to construct deviation! The use of tanks has contributed greatly to the speed of our advance, enabling the’ smashing of the enemy's 'fixed defences in double-quick time. In the Ramu Valley, the Australians smashed three strong Japanese coun-ter-attacks on Sunday morning. An enemy force estimated at 400 men struck in the Kesawai area ’in the foothills of the Finisterre Ranges just before dawn. It is believed that they suffered about 100 casualties before being driven off. Supporting the Australians in the valley, attack bombers made low-level sweeps over the enemy supply route connecting with their coastal base of Bogadj im.