May 28, 1944; New Guinea bases expanded:

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, 1944:

Sunday, May 28—

Veteran American infantrymen, supported by a heavy naval and air bombardment, landed on Biak island in Geelvink bay at dawn Saturday, advancing 350 miles westward in Dutch New Guinea to practically complete the reconquest of all New Guinea and move within 800 miles of the Philippines.

CHUNGKING, May 27 UP)—

Fighting has broken out in the neighborhood of Tsungyang, about 75 miles south of Hankow, in southern Hupeh province, a Chinese communique reported Saturday, and the possibility was being discussed here of a vast pincers against the Chinese rear as a likely Japanese move in central China, aimed eventually at this

 

Allies Cutting Escape;

Yanks Invade Biak

New Guinea Landing Puts

U. S. Forces 350 Miles

Farther in Drive West

»/-> Allies (Official) By United Press

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Southwest Pacific,

Sunday, May 28—

Veteran American infantrymen, supported by a heavy naval and air bombardment, landed on Biak island in Geelvink bay at dawn Saturday, advancing 350 miles westward in Dutch New Guinea to practically complete the reconquest of all New Guinea and move within 800 miles of the Philippines. Storming ashore at Bosnek village on the southeastern coast against heavy Japanese resistance, the American ground troops suffered onlylight casualties and already were advancing toward the Mokmer and Sorldo airdromes, the former only seven miles from Bosnek,

General Douglas MacArthur announced. "For strategic purposes, t h i s marks the practical end of the New Guinea campaign."

Domination Looms

(Continued on Page Three)

(Column Five

Sunday Morning    The Salt Lake City Tribune    May 28, 1944                                  A3

Jap Pincers

Hinted in

Hupeh Thrust

CHUNGKING, May 27 UP)—

Fighting has broken out in the neighborhood of Tsungyang, about 75 miles south of Hankow, in southern Hupeh province, a Chinese communique reported Saturday, and the possibility was being discussed here of a vast pincers against the Chinese rear as a likely Japanese move in central China, aimed eventually at this

wartime capital. Chinese dispatches claimed the Japanese drive in Honan province,

which is north of Hupeh, has been stalled, and that a Chinese counteroffensive

is' making progress, but it wag believed possible that the invaders were adjusting their positions and bringing up reinforcements for renewed assault,

Concede City's Fall

The Chinese communique reported "further progress" in the "Loyang sector," particularly east of Lushih, but the fall of the ancient walled city of Loyang itself,

claimed by the Japanese, has been here. In that vicinity of Loyang, planes of the Chlnese- American wing of the Fourteenth air force strafed enemy troops Friday,

a communique of Lieutenant General Joseph W. Stilwell's headquarters said, killing many enemy troops and destroying at least 30 trucks.

 U. S. Invades

Another Isle

In New Guinea

(Continued from Page One)

perimeter a mile to the east and a mile to the west of the village, the largest on the island.

Some shore fire met the naval I bombardment and minor damage I and casualties were suffered by the task force MacArthur's headquarters spokesman and communique announced.

No enemy planes opposed the landing. The Fifth air forces pounding of the Mokmer and Sorido airfields, as well as all other air bases in the Geelvink bay sector, had neutralized the bases and paved the way for the invasion.

MacArthur issued a personal statement at the time of the invasion announcement, declaring that the offensive moves of the past 11 months in this theater have more than fulfilled his "most optimistic hopes and expectations."

Chinese Units

Take Bastion

Near Kamaing

Allies (Official)

By United Press

SOUTHEAST ASIA HEADQUARTERS.

Kandy, Ceylon, May 27—

Lieutenant General Joseph W. Stillwell’s Chinese jungle fighters have captured the Mogaung valley stronghold of  Var6ng and are tightening a death trap around Kamaing, 12 miles to the 'southwest, where the largest Japanese force left in north Burma is encircled, a S E A C communique announced Saturday.

While one unit of Stillwell's Twenty-second d i v i s i o n drove down on Kamaing from the northwest, British-led chindits were reported closing in from the cast and south for an nll-out assault which promised to end only with the death or surrender of the last man of the trapped Japanese Eighteenth division.

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