JAPANESE SHIPS ATTACKED

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23743, 15 September 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE SHIPS ATTACKED

Raids on Salamaua And Lae. NO LAND CHANGE IN NEW GUINEA (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 12.15 a.m.) SYDNEY. Sept. 14. Allied airmen in the south-west Pacific have again struck heavily against the Japanese. As well as attacking in the New Guinea area they have also bombed enemy shipping at a point in the arc. of islands north of Australia. , Medium bombers dropped 17 tons of high explosives in two raids on the aerodrome at Lae on Sunday. Two

Japanese heavy bombers were destroyed on the ground and fires were started. The enemy base at Salamaua was also bombed. Some observers believe that reinforcements for the Japanese ground troops driving over the Owen Stanley range came overland from Lae and Salamaua. „ . In the New Britain area Flying Fortresses attacked a Japanese cruiser off the south-east, coast. The cruiser was accompanied by a destroyer. A low ceiling and scattered clouds made observation of the results of the bombing impossible. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered, but all the attacking aeroplanes returned. Three enemy cargo ships were attacked at two points in an island group south of' Dutch New Guinea. At least one was destroyed. Two small ships were bombed oft Tenimber, north of Darwin, by Australian Hudsons. The stern of one vessel was blown off by a direct hit. The second vessel was raked with machine-gun fire. Off Kei Island, an Allied reconnaissance unit bombed a heavy cargo ship, with unknown results. New Guinea Front Patrol activity continued in the Owen Stanley range, where the position is reported to be unchanged. For the third successive day it is announced that the enemy has made no further progress following his rapid drive from Kokoda over the mountain pass. War correspondents attach no special significance to the present lull, which is regarded merely as a pause in a continuing series of operations. The weight of the recent Allied air offensive against the enemy’s north New Guinea bases is regarded as an indication that the Allies are determined to shorten Japanese chances of securing air support for their land drive against Port Moresby. Japanese attempts to establish Buna as an air base to support the land drive against Port Moresby have cost them at least 50 aircraft in less than three weeks. It is believed that the 17 aeroplanes destroyed bn Saturday were assembled to support the enemy forces in The Owen Stanley range and to supply them from the air. Tie Allied attacks on the aerodrome on Saturday, extending over two hours, were the heaviest made in the New Guinea area. Between 50, and 60 bombers and fighters took part..