Evening star., 1943-07-15
Pacific
Continued From First Page.)

aid Munda already have been de-
rallied in the Kula Gulf, with to-
tai loss to Japan of between 13 and
II cruisers and destroyers. There
were no further indications in to-
days communique that the enemy
was prepared to try third time
| against the American warships in
| that area. ~.
The American Air Force gave the
bomb-pitted enemy fields of the
| Northern Solomons no chance to get
back in shape to come to Munda's S
aid. Liberators and Flying Fort
resses started new fires on air
! dromes at Buka, Kahili and Ballale
Some could be seen so miles away
Three Jap Bombers Downed.
The actual opening of the Allies
Mubo drive was preceded by and un
successful attempt by enemy dive
| bomberS yesterday to attack Aus
| tralian and American positions in
the area. kittyhawk fighter planes
| tackled the Japanese bombers and
! doWned three at a cost of one Allied
| fighter. Its pilot was saved.
| Clearing the japanese from the
Mubo zone, a region regarded as ex-
tenolng roughly south from the
Francisco River, would pin the jap
anese to their perimeter detenses
! around Salamaua. 1t also would
place the Allies in strong position
! to defend Mubo should it be cap
tured, as we'll as Wau, Morobe and
other outlying settlements previ-
ously taken, against any enemy at
tempt at infiltration.
There was no indication, however,
that the decisive actor" referred
to in the headquarters statement
means an immediate assault directed
at the capture of Salamaua itself.
Pressure on Mubo first was ap-
piled by Australian jungle patrols
shortly after the elimination Of the
Japanese from the Papuan PENN
Sula, south and east of Salamaua
early this year.
In a series OF secondary clashes
these Allied forces succeeded in
capturing a number of advantage
Gus positions around the central
defense point, but until now ap-
parently have not had sufficient
strength to attempt an about Of
fensive.
Mube Flanked From East.
A prelude to the big drive now
starting was the landing Of Amer1'
can troops at Nassau Bay. below
Salamaua, on June 80, an operation
which had the effect of fankine
Mubo from the east. ...-
This American force first made
contact July with the Australians
from Mubo, and on July 10 joined
them in some force at Kitchen Greek
on the outskirts of the enemy baS-
ton, bringing along artillery hauled
by hand through the jungle.
The earlier capture on May OF
Bobdubi, only miles southwest
erly from Salamaua. further tended
to isolate Mubo from its coastal
bases on Huon Gulf,
Since July 3 Allied air power il
the Northeastern New Guinea the
ater has concentrated on bombing
and straf1ng the supply lines be-
tween Salamaua and Mubo, throw
ing hundreds of tons of explosives
on these tenuous links through the
jungle. Green Hill and the pre-
viously captured Observation Hill
and Pimple Wood Island all were
isolated strong points dominating
the trails.
Now, apparently, the Allies
grouped in force, are prepared to
overwhelm the Mubo garrison and
thus remove one of the last major
barriers to the capture of Salamaua
itself and its neighboring base OF
Lac. Bitter jungle fighting is ex-
pected to follow Mubo's fall as Al.
lied forces move in to drive the Jap.