Evening star., 1943-10-16
All 370-MiIe Lenqth
OF New Britain Under
Allied Air Pounding
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC,
Oct. 16.-New Britain, key Japa-
.nese position now exposed to
possible invasion from the west
by recent successes of Gen.
Douglas Macarthur on nearby
New Guinea, is undergoing an
aerial pounding the length of
its 370-mile-long crescent.
Rabaul, air fortress and sea base
on the eastern tip, has been pounded
by $50 tons Of bombs in a single day.
Cape Hoskins' air strip for fighters
and for fueling long-range bombers
from Rabaul has been reduced to
rubble at the middle Of the crescent.
At the western tip, the airdrome
OF Cape Gloucester which is only IS
airline miles from Gen. MacArthur's
nearest New Guinea base, has been
blasted by AZ tons, a considerable
weight for the size Of the target.
Jap Airfields Blasted.
The biggest force of bombers and
fighters ever amassed in the South
west Pacific hit Rabaul Tuesday
destroying or making useless 1T
planes and sinking more than 100
ships ranging from destroyers to
small harbOr craft.
Cape Hoskins and Cape Gloucester
were pounded the next day, but the
results were announced only today.
Through the bomb bay of Liberia
tor, Associated Press War Cor
respondent Robert Eunson saw the
pattern of the raiders bombs wipe
out buildings, sink ship in the
harbor and make the airfield at
Cape Hoskins useless for days.
At Cape Gloucester, the bombs
blasted large holes in the runway
and spread fires over the base.
Thursday, the day after that raid,
Mitchells went in low along New
Britain's western tip to machine gun
Japanese occupied villages between
Cape Gloucester and Sag Sag and
wreck supply barges with their
bombs. That same day, the Gas
mata Airdrome on the south shore
was set ablaze by Liberators.
No Mention of Allied Losses.
There was no mention OF inter-
ception by Japanese planes In these
latest raids, nor Of any Allied losses.
Light anti-aircraft fire was met by
the Liberators, Beauforts and escort
ing P-38s over Cape Hoskins.
Today's communique also reported
a 3O-ton raid Thursday on the
Madang, New Guinea, area where
enemy stores and two fighter planes
were wiped out. Less than 40 miles
southwest OF Madang, Australians
are fighting their way along the
Ramu Valley in a campaign which
already has cost the Japanese more
than 400 slain soldiers.
Hard-hitting Aussie veterans of
the 7th Division have advanced a
few miles above Dumpu in the Up
per Ramu Valley and are pushing
their way up foothill spurs leading
to the craggy Finisterre Range
which attalns height of $4,000 feet.
The japanese apparently are con-
solldating a rough defense line
which runs across the valleys Uria
River and Faria Creek. In the last
few days there has been intensifica-
ton of patrol activity and skirmishes
with the enemy holding the advan-
tage Of position in hilly terrain.
Both Sides Using Artillery.
Artillery now is being used by
both sides. The Japanese are using
mountain guns and the Australians
25-pounders flown in by transport
plane.
The Australian 9th Division is
battling the enemy around Sattel-
berg, six miles inland from the cap
tured coastal base of Finschhafen.
The japanese are strongly en-
trenched and at one point the Aus
sizes found l09 foXholes with signs
that others were being dug.
1t seemed obvious the enemy COM
mand was determined to cling to
this outpost in order to prevent con-
solidation of Finschhafen as an Al
1iol