AIR ATTACKS IN NEW GUINEA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23915, 6 April 1943, Page 5

AIR ATTACKS IN NEW GUINEA

ENEMY DEFENCES IN MARKHAM VALLEY HEAVY BOMBING AND STRAFING (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 5. To-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters says:— North-western Sector Reconnaissance activity only. North-eastern Sector

New Guinea,—Our medium and attack bombers, accompanied by longrange fighters, executed a co-ordinated early morning attack on the enemy defence perimeter covering Lae, in the Markham Valley. Nearly 20 tons of bombs were dropped in the supply dump and building area, causing numerous fires, accompanied by large explosions. Twenty-three thousand rounds of ammunition were expended in more than 40 strafing passes over the area. The resultant damage was heavy. There was no interception and all our aeroplanes returned. At Salamaua one of our heavy units bombed the town area.

At Mubo our attack aeroplanes, continuing their offensive in low-level sweeps, bombed and strafed an enemy position in Kitchen creek. The special Australian correspondent of the N,ew Zealand Press Association says that Japanese survivors from the Bismarck Sea battle are still making belated arrivals on the New Guinea coast. The latest group to be discovered was the subject of a laconic message sent for the information or headquarters by an Australian patrol of three soldiers. Their dispatch read; “Eight Japanese landed at a village in our area. They were given ample opportunity to surrender, but attempted to escape, and it became necessary to liquidate them.. All our forces returned safely from this operation.

BOMBING BY JAPANESE

POSSIBLE BASES FOR U.S. AIRCRAFT LONDON, April 4. It is reported from Chungking that the Japanese have intensified their bombing of Lishui, in Chekiang Province. The business area is reported to have been razed and 10,000 left homeless. , _ ._ .. The Associated Press of Great Britain says that this is an indication that the Japanese fear that Lishui might become a base for bombing Japan. The Americans have estata : lished a forward air bass in Kiangsi Province, which is only about 900 miles from Osaka, the big Japanese naval base. Flying Fortresses and Liberators could easily make the round flight from Kiangsi to Osaka. A Chinese communique reports that fighting has again flared up on the Ichang sector of Hupeh Province. The Chinese retook Chuchiachuan village, killing 100 of the enemy.

ALLIED BLOWS IN PACIFIC GENERAL MACARTHUR’S RESOURCES NEW YORK, April 4. “Military and naval circles believe that smashing blows are planned in the Pacific, possibly coinciding with or even preceding the eventual European offensive,” reports the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times. He adds; “However, the same circles would be greatly surprised if the, main Pacific show begins before the last act of the European drama is in sight. The most likely possibility for the first blow seems to rest in General MacArthur’s domain. Indeed, it is a safe bet that General Mac Arthur' will’ not sit still, even if he cannot manage 'a largescale push against Rabaul. Other Japanese bases are tempting plums in his neighbourhood. “No one in Washington expects an island to island campaign, however. These enemy bases have,, been greatly reinforced, and Japanese air strength has been increased recently. Therefore, General Mac Arthur cannot take too great risks. Naval experts are not concealing the unfortunate fact that the United States might find it difficult to spare enough aircraft carriers for General MacArthur’s venture. “The possibility is also seen of the bombing of Tokyo from China. It is believed that this part of the strategy was recently discussed by the Pacific service chiefs in Washington. ’

ESCAPE FROM JAPANESE

NEW BRITAIN PLANTER HELPS AMERICANS

(Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 5. A member of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, Private J. L. Stokie, is known as “the man who fought a single-handed rearguard action against the Japanese.” The owner of a plantation on New Britain, he was at Rabaul when the enemy occupied the town in January, 1942. Until March of this year he defied intensive efforts by Japanese patrols to capture him. Recently Private Stokie arrived at Port Moresby with three American airmen whom he had located in the New Britain jungle. The airmen were survivors of the crew of a bomber which crashed in the sea after a raid on Rabaul. For 10 months before they joined forces with Private Stokie, the Americans suffered frightful hardships. They lived with natives, ate grasshoppers, lizards, caterpillars, and grubs, and waged a continuous fight against sickness. Two other members of the party were captured by the Japanese, and a third died. Private Stokie went to his plantation after the Japanese occupied Rabaul. He first submitted to native mumbo-jumbo, designed to make him bullet-proof and invisible to the enemy The Japanese sent Private Stokie two notes inviting him to surrender —but he found time to plant 50 acres of native food and 2000 coconut trees before he was compelled to take “avoiding action.” ... When he heard that American airmen were in the jungle, he sent them a letter by native carrier. It read: “To the three airmen at —. I hear you are with the natives. If you care to join me, I can arrange it. I have plenty of food and a small supply of medicine, and as soon as the northwest season is over I plan to reach Port Moresby by canoe. If you care to come along I can take you. I have had no news since February. Have you any? Cheerio, and best of good luck.” The airmen said they knew the writer was an Australian by his “cheerio H Private Stokie said the natives had reported to him that the Japanese at Rabaul were terrified by the Allied air raids. When our bombers appeared they ran for the bush.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. TRADE UNIONS

PRAISE FOR STAND, AGAINST FASCISM (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 4. “Australian and New Zealand trade Unions for the last 10 years have valiantly opposed world Fascist tendencies,” says “Reynolds News,” Ui a tribute to these unions before the opening of the Empire, Trade Union Congress on April 12. “Reynolds News” adds: “They opposed particularly the Fascist tendencies of Japan. Australian wharf labourers spent months striking and going to gaol to prevent nickel and scrap iron being sent to Japan. New Zealand trade unionists 10 years ago risked punishment f<jr distributing anti-war leaflets aboard! Japanese ships.”