DAWN RAIDS ON RABAUL

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23883, 27 February 1943, Page 5

DAWN RAIDS ON RABAUL

Bomb Hits On Enemy Shipping AIR OFFENSIVE IN PACIFIC (Rec 1.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, Feb. 26. Air attacks on Japanese shipping in Rabaul harbour have become almost a daily routine. The fourth successive raid before dawn by Flying Fortresses of General MacArthui s Command was made on Thursday. Several ships in the harbour were bombed and one of 8000 tons, thought to be a seaplane tender, was severely damaged by four direct hits. When the vessel was last seen an attempt was being made to beach her, but she was settling down by the stern. A second vessel of 4000 tons was hit and three smaller merchantmen were damaged by near-misses. Twelve Japanese vessels have been bombed in the last two days, but the results of the attacks are not known. While the Allied bombers’ main attack on Thursday was against shipping shore installations, and aerodromes at Rabaul, other enemy vessels were bombed at Babo in northwest Dutch New Guinea, and at Alexishafen, north-west of Salamaua. At Babo a direct hit was made on the bow of a 4000-ton cargo ship. At Alexishafen two direct hits or close misses were scored against a smaller vessel.

Allied aircraft are continuing the hammering of enemy positions, store dumps, and supply trails in the Lae-Mubo-Wau area. It is apparent that the Japanese have concentrated considerable quantities of stores in those localities. War of Attrition Discussing the heavy offensive being waged by General MacArthur’s air force, the “Sydney Morning Herald” says editorially: “Bombing is not to drive the Japanese out of bases, but it is inflicting aircraft and shipping losses which are a useful contribution to the war of attrition now being

waged as a prelude to stronger blows in the future when adequate forces can be set free from other theatres to strike them. At the same time the concentration upon the Allied policy of ‘Smashing Hitler First’ does not preclude local offensives of the type already carried through in the areas of both General MacArthur’s and Admiral Halsey’s commands, and the recent sustained bombing of the enemy’s gir and sea bases may be the prelude to further essays -in those offensive-defensive tactics which have driven the Japanese from the only territories so far reconquered from them.”

PRAISE FROM MR ROOSEVELT AUSTRALIAN AND U.S. FORCES (Rec. 1 a.m.) SYDNEY, Fob. 26. Mr Roosevelt has sent a message to General Mac Arthur .congratulating the Australian and American forces under his command upon their successes against the "Japanese. The message, which was dispatched some days ago, is believed to refer in part to the recent period when air attacks of record strength were made against an enemy shipping concentration, at Rabaul. It reads:— “The efficient bombardment launched by your forces during the last few weeks, and especially in the last few days, in support of the situation in the Solomons, and in furtherance of your own operations, commands our admiration,” Mr Roosevelt slates. "The arduous land campaign along the Papuan coast, which has decimated the enemy and now threatens him at Salamaua, has made a great impression on our people, and must have a demoralising effect on Japanese confidence in the fighting efficiency of their ground troops. “My thanks go to you and your leaders, and to the officers and men of the Australian and United States forces who have carried the fight to the enemy over great distances and even greater difficulties.”

JAPANESE WOMEN ON GUADALCANAR BODIES FOUND BY U.S. TROOPS NEW YORK. Feb. 25. American mopping-up patrols in the Gape' Esperance area have found the bodies of three Japanese women. This is the first positive evidence that Japanese women have been on Guadalcanar. The United Press correspondent, who gives the news in a delayed dispatch from the island, slates that the discovery recalls the stories, early in the campaign, that the enemy was employing women as aviators, gunners, and spies, and that the Japanese had even brought up a contingent of women especially to befuddle the United States Marines, The women were well nourished and apparently had died from natural causes. Other Japanese women are believed to have lived near the enemy headquarters at Visale.

U-BOAT TACTICS HOW ATTACKING SHIPS ARE MISLED LOS ANGELES, Feb. 25. U-boat commanders, in an attempt to mislead attacking warships, propel prisoners through their torpedo tubes together with debris and oil. thus creating an illusion that the submarine has been destroyed. When prisoners are not available it is believed that the submarine crews draw lots to select one to make the supreme sacrifice. Lieutenant John Sturdy, of the Royal Canadian Navy, describing this German device, said that it deceived the Allies when it was first employed, but new sound-detecting devices now enable us 'Xo determine certainly whether a submarine is destroyed. Lieutenant Sturdy said that the Germans sometimes man a dummy lifeboat attached to the conning tower and radio distress signals to attract rescue craft which, on arrival, are promptly torpedoed. The United States War Secretary (Mr H. L. Stimson), at a press conference, referred to the torpedoing of the two troopships In the north Atlantic in which 850 persons lost their lives.

While this emphasised the submarine menace, he said, it also drew attention to the magnificent performance of the Navy in convoying 1.500,000 troops overseas to all parts of the world. Losses bad been relatively few. (•