Evening star., 1943-10-24
Pacific
CCOntlnued From First PaoeN

SNttES
Continued From First Pagel
OF Sattelberg-Wh2re it could do
little good for itself and less harm
to the Au5SicS in FinSChhafen-to
the coast and thence farther north
TO some point on the Huon PENN
sula alongside Vitiaz Stait. This
force might hope to join with other
units there in commanding the stra-
teelcally vital sea passage between
New Guinea and New Britain,
Inc Japanese force which tried
futllely to halt the Australian drive
on FlnSchhaten was comporativelv
weak. Nine days after the Austria
hans entered that coastal base. Gen
Douglas MacArthurs communiuue
referred to mopping-up operations
against small enemy remnants in
the Mills to the northeast.
For several days prior to and for
eight days after official reference to
these moppmg-up operations, in
which more than 400 japanese were
siam, the COmmuniques made no
mention Of FinSchhafen except to
chronicle light japanese air attacks,
Some time between Finschhafen's
capture, October and October 10.
when communique reported sharp
hghtlng IN the area, the japanese
seem TO have reinforced the bat
tered unit which fell back from the
coast on Sattelberg, leaving the Aus
sizes IN possession Of 7-mile coastal
stretch between Flnschhafen and
the mouth Of the Song River. These
relnforcementS probably were des-
tlned originally to strengthen the
F1nschhafen garrison but speed and
1orce OF the Australian drive beat
the japanese to the punch.
Allies Strengthen Hold.
This was the situation at the time
OF the cOastWIde push. Rcsorting to
their customary tactics Of combin-
ing frontal attacks by day with in
filtration sorties by night. the jap
anese did succeed III pushing weak
forces to the coast.
The Allied counter pressure re-
ported today not only forced the
.I2nGnpCn n
beachhead but also to withdraw their
larger force from Katika toward
Sattelberg.
High mountains and deep jungles
block the enemy's possible escape
west and northwest of Sattelberg.
The successes of the Australian
operations Thursday and Friday have
given the Allies a firmer hold on the
sector south and east of Sattelberg.
The japanese are left with the
choice Of trying a second drive to-
ward the coast through the now
forewarned Aussies. attempting to
slip northeaStWard through the
Iungles or holding out around Sattel-
berg until starved or blasted out by
Allied bombs and guns.
Gasmata Airdrome Blasted.
In the air, Australian manned
KlttyhaWks pounded the GaSmata.
New Britain, airdrome of the enemy
some l35 miles east of the New
Guinea jungle front
LlberatorS flew more than 1000
miles round trip to make another
of their intermittent strikes at
Japan's nickel mining center of
Pomelaa, Dutch Celebes.
The Japanese air force made weak
appearances. There was a light raid
against Allied FinSchhafen positions
and also against the island of Kiri-
wilma IN the TrObriand group north
of New Guinea'S eastern tip.
The enemy setback at Katika oc-
CURED near the point where the
japanese seek to anchor a line on
the coast. It thus added to the
gravity of the enemy position far
ther inland at Sattelberg which took
the bulk of Thursdays aerial pound
ing. aimed at reinforCementS in that
dense jungle area.
The Sattelberg japanese have
been seeking during engagements
involving thousands of troops. to
cut through elements of the Aus
trallan 9Th Division and contact
their coastal forces.
Daring Daylight Raid.
The latest air raid on Pomelaa
was made in daylight. a daring pro-
cedure since the Liberators must fiy
uneScorted. Their more than "a
tons of bombs set fire to the leach
ing plant and smoke from it rose
1000 feet. Buildings near the let
ties also were set abalze. All the
Liberators returned safely.
The Kittyhawks attacking Gas
mata exploded supply dump areas
and blew up gun positions. In the
same sector, light naval craft, pre-
sumably PIT boats, sank a small
japanese coastal vessel, which was
loaded with fuel and ammunition.
For the third straight day. Allied
air attention was reported given to
the western tip of New Britain.
which is nearest to MacArthur's
newly won positions on New Guinea.
At Bergen Bay. where approxi-
hately 80 supply barges were