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| Location Lat 5° 40' 38S Long 145° 39' 35E Yokopi is located at an elevation of 2,732' / 832m in the Finisterre Range in the interior of New Guinea. Also known as Wagobi, Saiba, Saipa or Saipa 1. Nearby was Saipai. During the Pacific War, known as Yokopi. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the Territory of New Guinea. Today located in Madang Province in Papua New Guinea. Prewar A walking trail spanned from Yokopi northward into the mountains. Wartime History During the middle of 1943, the Japanese Army planned to expand the Bogadjim-Yaula Track plus an existing trail or road from Yokopi. Then, they planned another 48 miles of road into the Ramu Valley to Sanewas near Wampun then onward to Lae. If completed, this route would provide a safer route for supplies versus using Japanese ships or barges that were subjected to Allied attacks. By early September 1943, the Japanese had managed to complete the Bogadjim Road (Bogadjim-Yaula Road). To move supplies from Yaula to Yokopi, roughly 300 horses as pack animal with half working the route while the other half rested at Madang then were swapped. Facing difficult conditions and bad weather, by January 1944, all the horses had died from malnutrition or overwork. Afterwards, laborer carried 30kg loads by hand until early 1944 when construction ceased as Allied forces advanced to this area. By March 1944, the Australian Army reached Yokopi. A reconnaissance team from the 11th Australian Division led by Lt. Col. R. B. Wood, commander of the Royal Australian Engineers, plus Lt. R. L. Sands, Intelligence Officer (Engineers) visited the area touring the portion of the road, bridges destroyed by landslides and other features. Contribute
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