SUNK OFF BUNA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23801, 21 November 1942, Page 5

SUNK OFF BUNA

Enemy Cruiser And Destroyer ALLIES’ ADVANCE BY LAND (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY. Nov. 20. A Japanese light cruiser and a destroyer have been sunk off Buna. A second enemy destroyer was damaged and compelled to flee. Flying Fortresses caught the three enemy warships completely by surprise in a night attack pressed home from a low altitude in heavy ram squalls. Flares lit up the targets for our aircraft dropping 5001b bombs. . Japanese landing barges loaded with troops were heavily strafed. It is still undetermined, however, whether the, enemy naval force put in close to shore to land or take off troops. To-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters reveals that Allied pressure on Lieutenant-General Horrii’s Papuan force has been intensified. The Japanese are now pinned

down on the narrow coastal strip between Buna and Gona. Australian units are known to have reached Popondetta, 10 miles from Buna. American troops are believed to be in ; action against the Japanese troops, and ■ it is thought that the Australians al- : ready may have joined in the battle for Buna. Severe fighting may be expected now that Lieutenant-General Horrii’s forces have been cornered. Action is likely to be swift, but the Japanese appear to have reorganised for a determined defensive. Our airmen have reported , heavily intensified anti-aircraft fire. Graphic details of the air action against the Japanese warships were given to war correspondents to-day by a headquarters spokesman. He said that a direct hit on the cruiser started fires, followed by heavy explosions. The stricken warship burned fiercely 1 while the destroyer stood by. Later the cruiser was seen to sink,' Destroyer “Split Open” The second destroyer was “split wide open” by a direct hit and sank im- : mediately. The exact time of the action ! has not been indicated. During the attacks barges filled with troops were observed between the ships ; and the shore. When our aircraft appeared the barges began to swing in circles, making it impossible to determine whether they were bound for the i ships or the shore. It is not known whether the three i Japanese warships attacked were part of the enemy force reported off Buna in Thursday’s communique. This force, stated to comprise eight destroyers, was sighted originally off Gasmata, in New Britain. Both our mediurrt and heavy bombers made repeat- , ed efforts to attack the force, but were ; prevented by bad visibility from finding their targets. It was not until darkness that a decisive air assault could be launched against the enemy warships. Seven Zeros attempted to provide protection for the Japanese naval forces. Three of these were shot down and the remainder driven off. With the Allied troops already engaging them, Lieutenant-General Horrii’s men will find it hard to abandon Buna, even if they wish to do so. The destruction of the Japanese ground force is certainly part of General MacArthur’s plan. Some commentators base their belief that the enemy is attempting to rein- , force the Buna garrison on the ground that the Japanese are scarcely likely to concede without a fight an air base from which Lae and Salamaua could be gravely menaced. Other commentators believe the Japanese are prepared to write off the Buna base as part <Jf the losses which went with their earlier failure in the Owen Stanley range. The correspondent of the “Sydney Morning Herald” says: “On broad strategic principles there seems no good reason why the enemy should try to hold Buna at heavy cost.”

JAPANESE ON TIMOR

EQUIPMENT BEING MASSED (Rec. 1.45 a.m.) CANBERRA. Nov. 20. It is officially stated that the Japanese are massing military equipment on the island of Timor, which is only 300 miles from the north-western Australian coast. The enemy has now occupied all nine anchorages in the Portuguese section of the island. These developments are understood to be among the reasons why the Prime Minister (Mr J. Curtin) asked the Australian Labour Party conference to extend the liability for service of the militia to the limits of the, south-west Pacific war zone. It is not indicated whether the Japanese are gathering in Timor for an assault against Australia or if they are preparing against possible Allied attempts to take the island. Because of Allied preoccupation with other zones it has been impossible to prevent Japanese infiltration ip Timor, but Allied aircraft recently have been very active over this sector. Discussing war strategy at a press conference to-day, Mr Curtin made the following appreciation of the military situation directly affecting Australia: Australia at present is being defended in an outer screen running through New Guinea, the southern Solomons, the New Hebrides, New Caledonia, and Fiji. If the most eastern part of the screen holds, the eastern part of Australia can be defended from New Guinea. If the Japanese can be pushed out of the Solomons and New Guinea they will have to retire to the mandated islands in the Marshall and Caroline groups. In order to keep Australia inviolate from the ravages of- war the enemy must be kept at arm’s length. Therefore to the north he must eventually be fought in Timor and the adjacent islands. These factors in Mr Curtin’s view necessitate a reorganisation of Australia’s military strength to permit the wider use of her militia.

NEW TREATMENT FOR BURNS

U.S. DISCOVERY OF SOLUTION (Rec. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 19. The discovery of a solution which is expected to reduce mortality from burns has been announced by the Franklin Institute Biochemical Research Foundation of Philadelphia. The solution acts as a perfect substitute for the blood serum used for treating burns. It can be carried as a powder and diluted with water. Dr. Mac Donald, director of the institute, said the foundation’s study of burns indicated that the use of tannic acid for treating burns was dangerous. This had been suspected by scientists, and now their suspicion was amply confirmed. Election Expenses.—The playwright, Mrs Clare Boothe Luce, spent 9267 dollars in her successful Congressional campaign, which was the highest expenditure in any Connecticut candidate. Her husband, Mr Henry Luce, the editor of the publications. “Time.” “Life.” and "Fortune.” contributed 1897 dollars of this amount.— New York, Nov. 19.