The Wilmington morning star., 1945-05-07
AUSSIES CAPTURE
TARAKAN CENTER
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flamethroWers to reduce a "maze
Of pillboxes and inter-communl-
eating tunnels" before Tarakan
Hill. in the heart of the main city,
was taken.
japanese positions around the
adjacent airfield were eliminated
in a wide enveloping move through
difficult terrain.
Repair of the runway already
was under way.
American bombers raked For
mosa and targets along the China
coast.
Thousands of Japanese troops who
withdrew from the Davao area be-
fore the onrushing Oath Infantry
Division are trapped on northeast
ern 1ndanao.
Maj. Gen. Roscoe B. Woodruff S
fast-driving oath, which on Fri
day captured Davao, the last siz-
able Philippine city to be held by
the Japanese, speared eastward
to Mintal and took that town, two
miles from Davao, in a brisk fight.
On tiny Tarakan island, Bor-
neo, just off the southwest edge
of the Philippine Archipelago, Aus
tralian and Dutch troops battled
the Japanese in Tarakan town and
on one end Of its airfield. Ausses
were led by tanks as they pene-
trated the flaming Pamoesian oil
region.
The Japanese defenders OF Da-
vac counterattacked heavily be-
fore they withdrew to the north on
Friday. Associated Press Core
spondent Richard Bergholz report
ed the counterblow momentarily
threatened the American hold on
the, city but was finally beaten
off with flamethroWers, mortaxs
and automatic weapons.
In Central Mindanao the 31st In
fantry Division under Maj. Gen.
Clarence Martin advanced six
miles north from Kibawe in a drive
which Gen. Douglas Macarthur
said blocks the enemy's northward
avenue Of retreat from Davao.
The 3lst also was bearing down
on the big japanese air center at
Valencia, about 70 air miles north
west OF Davao.
Some $4,000 Japanese troops
were estimated on Mindanao April
II when the Yanks made their
second landing on the big island to
start their overland push on Da-
vac. This force has yet to be met
in strength. The Japanese are be-
ieved mainly caught in the north
eastern sector, where guerrillas
already have cleared Surigao pro-
vince.
The Australian-Dutch invasion of
Tarakan ran into stiff opposition
in the hill area near Tarakan town.
Point blank fire from the 75MM
guns of Matilda tanks was requir-
ed to knock out Japanese firing
from a honeycomb of tunnels.
Tanks paced dismounted Aus
tralian cavalry commands in their
push across the heart of the burn
ing Pamoesian oil field. Smoke
from burning oil was thick over
the rich little port island.
The Australians, freshly bolster
ed by Dutch troops, cleared the
Boorterrein and Pamoesian dis
tricts and held the western edge
Of the Tarakan airfield. The Japa-
nese defended the other end with
banks Of machineguns.
The japanese were making full
use of high ground, tunnels, land
mines and old Dutch defenses, AS
ISOLATED Press Field Correspond
ent Spencer Davis reported.
The airfield itself continues to
be no mans land. Although its
dihpersal ravbgkwyqeta oinc mfwy
dispersal revetments are empty,
reported Davis, it is worth mans
life to walk into one because each
appears to be covered by Jap
anese machineguns and mortars.
One Japanese hill position, laid
bare by shell fire. show more