The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-04-24

The heavy air and sea lombard
ment that preceded the three
landings scattered the Japanese
garrisons and no organized enemy
resistance has been reported yet at
any of the beachheadS. However,
some of the Japanese cut off at
Wewak were understood to be
working their way along coastal
trails toward Aitape and strong
counter attacks were anticipated
against all tire forces in the near
future.
Headquarters sources said there
probably already had been some air
reaction against the Tanahmerah
and Hollandia beachheads from the
west, probably from bases at Mano-
kwari. A Japanese night raid in
the first two or thre nights after
the landings might cause heavy
damage and considerable casualties
should hits be scored on newly-land
ed ammunition and vehicles before
they can be dispersed properly.
EnveIoping Loop
Macarthur said the landings, in
which scores of thousands of troops
participated, throws a loop of en-
velopment" around the Japanese
18th army in northern New Guinea.
Time and combat will be re-
quired to accomplish the annihila-
ton, but their ultimate fate Is now
certain" Macarthur said in a COM
munique announcing the landings.
Their situation reverSes Bataan.
The present operation, when COM
pleted, frees British New Guinea
fgrom enemy control and is the
first re-capture of Dutch territory
In the war;
The development of the 18th
Army brought to 100000 the total
number OF Japanese troops, origin
ally destined for an invasion of
Australia, now surrounded. The re-
naming 10000, belonging to the
18th Army, already had been iso-
lated in the northern Solonaons and
the Bismarck Archipelago.
The two armies originally num-
Dered 100000 men, but have lost
10000 in dead and prisoners-44
per cent of their electives.
The American invasion forces. in
their most powerful southwest Paci-
tic offensive yet, secured their in
1tlal beachheads with matter of
hours at Humboldt Bay, where they
seized Hollandia village and an
emergency airstrip; Tanahmerah, 20
miles west of Hollandia, and Aitape,
125 miles southwest of Hollandia.
where another airfield was cap
tured.
From Hollandia and Tanahmerah,
the troops began an immediate pin
GERS advance on the three airfields
making up the Hollandia air base,
situation between them and consti-
tuting the most powerful enemy air
center in New Guinea.
ee-deep swamps and 7OO-foot
hills lie between the two forces and
their objective, but spokesman at
MacArthur's headquarters said the
aid fields ARE expected to be in
our hands soon." The westernmost
column, advancing from Tanahmer-
ah, sent patrols more than half way
along the 11-mile trail to the air
fields, which lie 10 miles east of
Hollandia village.
The three airfields already have
been neutralized by hundreds of tons
Of bombs dropped by land and car
rier- based planes.
Minor Resistance
Only minor resistance was en-
countered in the initial advances
after the rain Of bombs and shells
drove the Japanese into the jungles,
but Macarthur warned that the en-
envy could be expected to "stirqe
desperately" though doomed. The
invasion troops suffered only Slight
losses in the landings, Macarthur
said.
Huge booty was captured. Scores
Of uncrated plane engines, bombs,
plywood belly tanks for Japanese
freighters, tons Of rice, hundreds of
cases of food and large piles Of
ammunition were found. The sur
prise Of the operation was so COM
plete that japanese breakfasts, I'M
beaten and still warm, were found