Evening star., 1943-09-12
Strong Allied Attack
Near Sa|amaua Base
Drives laps TO Flight
BY the Associated Press.

Australian jungle fighters, COW
cred by heavy artillery bar
rage, drove the japanese from
ridge positions along the coast
below Saiamaua, New Guinea,
into panicky flight yesterday,
bringing close the fateful hour
for an enemy army trapped
there and at Lac.
The Japanese at Salamaua, who
broke so abruptly from defenses
southeast of the Francisco River
that they left behind artillery and
hundreds Of dead, can retreat north
along a trail to Lac. But Lae's
peril appears even greater with Aus
tralians throwing back Japanese
counterattacks at newly won river
bridgehead only 2 miles from an
airdrome on its .northeastern out
skirts and another Allied force surg
ing down the, Markham Valley
from the northwest.
AA NA OAuC S0RtuIC oCCHs
The breaking of the Japanese
lines below Salamaua apparently
augurs early capture of the large
airdrome which is between the
Francisco River and the town. built
out on an isthmus in the Huon
Gulf.
The Allies are bidding for two
other airdromes at Lac. Near the
Malahang airdrome, Australians
who crossed the rainswollen Busu
River for the first time came under
the fire of medium Japanese artil-
lery yesterday,
Advanced guards of the Austral-
ians inflicted losses on the enemy
which tried to dislodge the bridge
head yesterday.
A few soldiers of the encircled
Lae-Salamaua army, which some
estimates have placed as high as
10000, may be able to run the 1A....d
sea and air gantlet by saeaking
from Lac in barges, but the greater
portion appears doomed.
Troops Flown In.
The other force moving on Lac
from the Markham Valley is grow
ing by the hour as more men and
equipment are flown in by big air
transports.
Allied losses around Salamaua.
in yesterdays line smashing attack
and throughout previous operations
have been only a fraction OF those
inflicted on the Japanese, head
quarters said.
While other forces have been
closing in fast on Lac, 18 miles
northwest OF Salamaua, the reports
from Salamaua heretofore have
been briefly to the effect that pres
sure was being increased there.
The plight of the japanese at Lac
has been described as desperate.
villa Garrison Raided.
In the Solomons sector, American
bombers have made q new violent
raid on the isolated Japanese Gar
rison Of Villa, on Kolombangara
Island.
Today's communique said the
paratroop-led forces which are mov-
ing down the Markham Valley be-
mind Lac and the seaborne forces
which landed above it now are de-
veloping contact with main enemy
defense positions.
Avenger torpedo bombers and
Dauntless dive bmbers, escorted by
fighters, delivered two heavy at
tacks on supplies and defenses at
Villa in the Solomons.
Three japanese coastal guns were
destroyed and many of the gun
crews killed. Heavy damage was
caused to Villas airdrome. one OF
five still in japanese hands in the |
Solomons.
At the biggest enemy airdrome in
that section, Kahili on Bougain-
vile, today's communique reported
that four-engined bombers set fuel
dumps ablaZe and started fires
among grounded aircraft while es-
corting fighters drove OF 80 inter-
cepting Japanese planes. Three of
the interceptors were shot down
and the Americans also lost three
but two pilots were saved.