Feelers Crushed

The only "front line" left in the Southwest Pacific war is in the New Guinea jungle, where small handfuls of garrisoning Allied troops continue a gradual encroachment on Jap outposts. Most advanced of these outposts is the native village of Mubo, which straddles the only practicable land route to Salamaua and Lae. Near by, on Lababia ridge, Allied patrols have established some of the fixed positions gained in weeks of skirmishing.

Up this ridge one day last week swarmed Jap jungle fighters in greater force than they had mustered for some time. Anticipating attacks on Salamaua and Lae, they were feeling out Allied positions, possibly planning to open a limited drive southeast to establish better defenses. But the Allied troops, now skilled in jungle warfare, tore into the Japs, killing 100. Boston medium bombers thundered low over the retreating enemy. After five days of scattered fighting the score of Jap casualties was 204. Planes continued to roar overhead daily, blasting supply dumps of an enemy whose supplies had long been bone-thin, strafing stubborn units which still persisted in helpless defense.

Salamaua, a tadpole-shaped peninsula, is only ten miles from Mubo. It is now scarcely tenable by the Japanese. Its occupation would bring the Allies within 21 miles of the important Jap base at Lae. At week's end Allied bombers gave Lae one of its heaviest poundings since the war began.

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