JAP. SHIPS LOST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 82, 7 April 1943, Page 3

JAP. SHIPS LOST

NEW IRELAND AREA Results Of Recent Aerial Attacks N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent SYDNEY, April 6. A Japanese light cruiser is beached at Kavieng, New Ireland. Reconnaissance after the three-day aerial battle in this area, which resulted in at least 12 enemy warships and merchantmen being sunk or damaged, shows that some shipping.remains in the harbour. . . - This information was released today by the spokesman at Genjsral Mac Arthur's Headquarters., It is thought that some of the ships remaining may be immobilised by damage from our bombing attacks. The spokesman was asked by war correspondents if the presence of an enemy shipping concentration at Kavieng could be inferred to imply that the earlier heavy attacks on Rabaul, in New Britain, had forced the enemy to make plans for the development of the port of Kavieng, to relieve pressure on Rabaul. Rabaul Still Busy Jap. Base The spokesman replied that recent reconnaissance showed that the enemy's shipping concentration at Rabual remained normal. There was no evidence of a reduction in Japanese strength at that busy base. The war and merchant shipping attacked at Kavieng was an entirely new concentration and did.not comprise vessels moved from the Rabaul area. In the meantime Allied air attacks continue. against the Japanese defensive arc north of Australia. "Our mediunr bombers executed an extended night harassing. raid on the aerodrome and adjacent town areas on Buka Island, north of Bougainville, in the Solomons," says General Mac Arthur's latest communique. "For three and a half-hours our planes cruised over the target dropping fragmentation and demolition bombs, on dispersal bays and the runway, and in Chinatown and Kakil. Numerous intense fires occurred and lasted more than two hours. These appeared to be burning aircraft. "Searchlights and anti-aircraft fire of all calibres were encountered. AIL our planes returned." At Timika, Dutch New Guinea, Allied medium aircraft bombed an enemy-occupied village, starting fires. In Sekar Bay heavy bombers attacked a 400-ton enemy cargo ship, scoring close misses with 5001b bombs. The damage could not be ascertained. Heavy bombers over Cape Gloucester, New Britain, twice raided the aerodrome, bombing and strafing the runways and dispersal area. The aerodromes at Mad?.ng and Salamaua, New Guinea, also were bombed.