What the Allies Have

Is Jap Breaking

In N. Guinea?

What the Allies Have Done

HOPES at last are running high that the term of the Japanese occupation of New Guinea is nearing the end They have gone from Papua; from the Morobe and Salamaua district of the mainland; from all of the Huon Penin sula eastwards of Madang; from the Ramu region, inland from Madang; and from the western end of New Britain Their perceptibly-weaker defence in the Madang-Wewak area, in Rabaul, and in Bougainville, noted in early February, is partly due to ceaseless Allied bombing, and is partly the result of the American occupation of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. The Americans, driving east in the Central Pacific, threaten the Jap communications between their Caroline Islands bases and the New Guinea-Solo mons line.

The Jap now must either send in his fleet, and challenge Allied air and sea power, or get out of the South Pacific.

Nonetheless, while the Jap occupation of eastern New Britain, New Ireland, Buka and most of Bougainville, is not as aggressive as it was, it still is strong. We shall see, in another week or two, whe ther the enemy is going to get out while the way out is clear; or whether he is going to remain and fight to the last ditch. This is how the campaign to clear New Guinea has gone:— Sept. 4.—Australian Ninth Div. lands near Lae.

Sep. 12. —Australians and Americans occupy Salamaua.

Sep, 19.—Australians take Lae.

Sep, 21. —Australians land on coast north of Finschhaven.

Oct. 2. —Australians take Finschhaven.

Oct. 7.—Australians, having driven Japs out of Markham and Upper Ramu Valleys, arrive at point 35 miles inland from Bogadjim (south-east of Madang).

Nov. 25. —Australians, moving north from Finschhaven, take Satelberg.

Dec. 16. —Americans land and occupy Arawe, south-east coast of New Britain.

Dec. 28.—Americans land and occupy Jap air fields at Cape Gloucester, western end of New Britain.

Jan. 2. —Americans land at Saidor, 60 miles east of Madang and 100 miles west of Austra lians near Satelberg.

Feb. 10. —Australians junctioned with Americans 14 miles east of Saidor. Huon Peninsula now in Allied occupation; bulk of 14,000 Jap troops destroyed.

There were reports on February 11 that the Japanese appeared to have with drawn from Madang, If so, this good port on the north coast of New Guinea will be available for use as an Allied base against the Japs on the Wewak coast, to the westward, and in the Admiralties, to the north.

War students should keep their eye on the map—especially on the New Ireland section of the Bismarck Archipelago, and Nauru, between New Ireland and the Marshall Islands.