The Battle of Driniumor River, or "Hanto," was coming to its conclusion. The Japanese Eighteenth Army, hugely depleted from combat losses, starvation, disease, and lack of reinforcement (isolation), had been trapped by US landings along the north coast of New Guinea, particularly at Hollandia and Aitape on the 22nd April 1944. Out of sheer exasperation and desperation General Adachi ordered a massive westward counter-attack on the 10th of July in a futile attempt to recapture Aitape. After suffering horrendous casualties during the battle (Allied intelligence had correctly forecast the attack) the Japanese in New Guinea ceased to be capable of offensive actions. By roughly the 10th of August 1944, shattered remnants of the once formidable Eighteenth Army were fleeing east towards Wewak. Of the 140, 000 men placed under Adachi's command in November 1942 barely 13, 000 survived to the war's end.
A brief description from the official, bog standard write-up of McArthur's World War Two exploits:
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/MacArthur Reports/MacArthur V1/ch06.htm#b10
And a decent map of the action from the same account:
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/MacArthur Reports/MacArthur V1/Images/p_045.jpg
A little bit of history for the day. Never forget!
A brief description from the official, bog standard write-up of McArthur's World War Two exploits:
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/MacArthur Reports/MacArthur V1/ch06.htm#b10
And a decent map of the action from the same account:
http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/MacArthur Reports/MacArthur V1/Images/p_045.jpg
A little bit of history for the day. Never forget!