MORE GROUND GAINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1943, Page 3

MORE GROUND GAINED

BY AMERICANS IN NEW BRITAIN IN SPITE OF INCREASED RESISTANCE AUSTRALIAN PROGRESS IN HUON PENINSULA (Special P.A. Correspondent.) SYDNEY, December 30. The Japanese are offering 1 sharply increased resistance to the American invasion troops at Cape Gloucester. New Britain. Enemy ground forces are. .being supported by aerial and artillery bombardments, but despite this opposition the Americans have expanded their general landing 'area.

The Japanese are making their strongest efforts against the eastern perimeter of the bridgehead. The American Marines are now within a mile of the strategic enemy held aerodrome. On Tuesday, with strong artillery and air support, they moved forward half a mile . from an unnamed river. Tanks as well as flame-throw-ers were employed in the advance. Using heavy mortars and light artillery, the Japanese throughout Tuesday made persistent assaults against the Americans in the Borgen Bay area. Though outnumbered in this sector, the Marines are holding their positions. So far more than 200 enemy dead have been counted. No details have been given of the Marines’ casualties. Initially disposed as a coastline cordon defence, Japanese troops in the area are now regrouped in two concentrations—defending the airstrips and at Borgen Bay. It is these accumulations of enemy strength that the Marines are now encountering. At Arawe on the south coast of New Britain, 65 miles from Cape Gloucester, no important change has occurred in the ground situation. The fighting has been confined to patrol skirmishes. On the Huon Peninsula Australian troops driving northward reached Blucher Point. They are receiving close air support, while the Japanese supply base at Madang has been attacked with 72 tons of bombs. In' the Celebes, a Japanese convoy was attacked south of Boetongis, and two 3000-ton transports were damaged by bombing and strafing. One vessel was left listing.

HEADLONG FLIGHT MADE BY JAPANESE, ALONG NEW GUINEA COAST. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, December 30. The Japanese retreat along the coast of New Guinea, north of Finschhafen, has become a headlong flight and all organised resistance to the Australian advance guard has ceased, states a Sydney message. The Japanese made the last semblance of a stand at the Masawng River, eight days ago and have now become demoralised.

FROM SEA & AIR

JAPANESE IN BOUGAINVILLE . BOMBARDED (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service) SOUTH PACIFIC, December 30. Continued sea and air bombardment are giving the upper Solomons Japanese no respite as the Allied forces work toward Rabaul from the south and west. For the fifth time this month Allied cruisers and destroyers on Monday hurled shells into Bougainville positions, this time on Kieta.

Reports are incomplete, but aerial spotters declared that the target was thoroughly covered. Also on Monday more than 160 aerial sorties plastered the island's coastal defences in bombing and strafing raids. Solomons based fighters roamed to - Rabaul, where 40 were intercepted by 60 enemy Zeros, of which eight were destroyed, one probably destroyed and one damaged. There were no Allied personnel losses, though one Corsair pilot was picked up in the sea after the plane had crashed clue to engine trouble. A Japanese effort to set fire to our aircraft by the use of burning phosphorous streamer and aircraft shells failed dismally. Unescorted Mitchells also in daylight raids bombed the Buka seaplane base and attacked barges round the coast of New Ireland.