Evening star., 1945-07-03
.Borneo Fires
toCheck
.Aussie Drive
Repair Crews Reported
Working on Air Strips
Above BoIikpopon
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
MANILA, July 3.-Australian
infantry, Drawing rivers of fam
ing oil and barrages from Jap
anese 5-inch guns, advanced
through face-searing heat today
and seized part of the vital
Southeast Borneo petroleum port
of Balikpapan.
Australian radio reports said they
also had captured both the Seping-
gang and Manggar airflelds, 3 and
10 miles northeast of Balikpapan
and the Australian commander de-
clared the -day-old invasion al
ready was strategic" success.
Volcanoes of fire and dense black
smoke from the blazing heart OF
the refinery area rolled over Aussie-
held ridges that dominate both the
town and the beach.
Success Assured.
Standing atop the highest of these
ridges, 1t. Gen. Sir Leslie J. Mors-
head. Australian corps commander
declared that quick capture of this
commanding ground had assured
success of the campaign.
I'm strategic sense" he ex-
planned. "the campaign is won,
although Japanese resistance INLAND
was stiffening and the enemy's con.
cealed artillery still was spatterinl
ridges and beachhead.
The Tokyo radio said approx
imately 1000 Allied troops had beer
put ashore by last night, spear.
headed by two heavy tanks and Sc
medium tanks. The Japanese placed
air support of this ground operation
at ITO planes and noted an "in-
crease of warships, including five
cruisers, so transports and other
types"
Gen. MacArthur's communique to-
day located the invading Australian
7th Division-veterans of early
fighting in New Guinea-nearly
miles inland and spread for 3 miles
along the seashore.
Air Strips Being Repaired.
Gen. Macarthur did not confirm
capture of the airfields, but ASsoci-
ated Press Correspondent Russell
Brines earlier reported from the
front that capture of Sepinggang, at
least, was imminent.
The Melbourne radio said air
force crews began Immediately to
repair the bomb -cratered air strips
which presumably will provide close
land-based air support for the ad-
vancing infantry.
Mr.. Brines said the Aussies were
within 1900 yards of the heart OF
Baiikpapan.
Carrier planes meanwhile aug
mented continual Allied long range
bomber attacks against deeply-en.
trenched Japanese positions, ant
guns Of the United States 7th Flee,
joined field artillery in hammerine
steadily at enemy gun emplace-
ments. Several Japanese 5-inct
guns concealed in hills several miles
inland, which began shelling the
beachhead area today, we're be.
lieved destroyed.
The Australians already held more
than half of smashed Klandasan, 8
main residential suburb of Balik.
papan, sprawling along the hill:
near the Balikpapan Bay entrance
Japs in Caves Fight Bitterly.
East of the beachhead and about
a mile inland, Japanese holding
strong cave and tunnel position.
were fighting bitterly. Similar
caves were encountered occasion.
ally inland from the main beach.
head and were being reduced one
by one in familiar, grim, Pacific.
war fashion.
AusSie casualties thus far were
reported light, Correspondent Brine!
radioed from the front, although ths
Japanese artillery still was firing
now and then into the beachheao
area.
Only a few Japanese prisoner!
have been taken, Mr.. Brines re.
ported.
In their swift advance eastward
toward the airfields, the Australians
took one dominating hill with east
and were surprised to find, vir.
tually unnamed, elaborate fortifi-
cations on its crest. Field COM
manders termed it another exampl,
of the effectiveness of preinvasior
air and naval bombardments which
drove japanese defenders from tht
beaches.
Convoy of Trucks Sighted.
Minefields and BOBBY traps added
to difficulties of the advance inland
American amphibious tractor crew
reported.
Although pockets of Japanese wer
standing firm, American Navy pilot!
reported sighting a convoy of enem,
trucks fleeing northward along al
inland road. Strafing stopped Is O.
the vehicles.
:. Emphasizing the difficulty of i'm
mediate occupation-and salvage
of the refinery area, Associated Pres
Correspondent James Hutcheso1
described literal river of fire sep
arating Australian and Japanes,
lines when huge oil tank exploded
sending "a wild column of flame
roaring down ravines toward tn,
sea.
There was no confirmation o.
Tokyo's assertion that Australian in.
vasion forces had made a new land.
ing at Kualasambodja, 80 miles VI
the coast from Balikpapan