Great Victory In Bismarck Sea

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 54, 5 March 1943, Page 3

Great Victory In Bismarck Sea

COHWOV ANNIHILATED

Jubilation In Australia, U.S.A. And Britain

(N.Z.P.A. —Special Correspondent.—Rec. 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The hulks of three burning transports and two badlydamaged destroyers were all that was left afloat of the Japanese convoy of 22 ships on Wednesday night. It is thought probable that all five ships have now been sent to the bottom. The great battle of the Bismarck Sea, which opened on Tuesday morning, virtually ended on Wednesday night. The enemy division wiped out is believed to have been intended for a new invasion of Australian-held New Guinea.

War observers expect that the battle will go down in military history as a classic example of the efficacy of land-based bombing attacks on a sea force covered' by fighter planes. The victory is variously described as "the greatest single feat of arms that has been wrought in the South-west Pacific area," and as "the most complete victory won in the defence of the approaches to Australia."

"Seldom in warfare has so much been won at so little cost," says the Sydney Morning Herald editorially. "The gratitude and admiration of all Australians will go out to the men who planned and executed this decisive stroke. They have pierced' the clouds which were gathering darkly about our North, given us more time to prepare our counter-blows and deepened our confidence in the weapons which are being fashioned to ensure the final overthrow of Japan." Throughout Australia attention is again focused on air power as the key to a Pacific victory. Federal Parliamentarians again stress the punishing power with which more aircraft could strike the Japanese in this theatre. Thus' it is recalled that at the conclusion of the Papuan campaign General Mac Arthur, in his communique of January 24, said: "The outstanding military lesson of this campaign was the continuous and calculated application of air power." News of the Allied victory in the South-west Pacific area has caused jubilation in Australia, the United States and Britain.