World Battlefronts: BATTLE OF THE PACIFIC: The General's Little Blitz

General Douglas MacArthur demonstrated in New Guinea that he is a great offensive commander. In less than three weeks he gobbled up most of the Huon Peninsula. In twelve days he enveloped and captured Lae. Six days later he swept around Finschhaven, 70 miles beyond Lae on the Huon Gulf. His airborne Australians attacked inland. His seaborne Australians landed on the coast above Finschhaven, with mortar fire and bayonet established a bridgehead and seized Finschhaven airport. At week's end the fall of Finschhaven itself was imminent, and the Japs were reduced to...