FIGHTING AT RABAUL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 89, 26 January 1942, Page 3

FIGHTING AT RABAUL

AUSTRALIANS HOLD ON BOMBING ON MAINLAND ENEMY WARSHIPS ATTACKED / ' ‘ t , (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 2.30 a.m.) CANBERRA. January 25. The Minister for the Army (Mr F. M. Forde) announced , to-night that the latest developments in the New Guinea area were: “Reports received indicate that Japanese marines who landed at Kavieng, at the north-eastern end of New Ireland, in the /! Bismarck Archipelago, have wrecked all buildings not previously demolished by our forces. In the Rabaul area our troops are holding positions across the western end of Rabaul Peninsula. “Lae, the capital of the New Guinea mainland; was severely dive-bombed and machine-gunned by Japanese planes on Thursday. The evacuation of this town has been completed. Our militia forces were definitely in action for the first time in history against an invading force, but a proportion of the troops in the Rabaul area are A.I.F. Although reports of the actual fighting are meagre, our troops are putting up a magnificent fight against the invaders.” The Minister for Air (Mr A. S. Drakeford), in a communique said: “Last night our aircraft attacked enemy naval units at RabauL Bombs, were dropped and some hits were observed in the - target area. One of our aircraft has not returned|” It is officially stated that nothing has been heard from Bulolo since the radio ceased on Friday. There has been no news from Lae since Port Moresby advised the evacuation from that town.