JAPANESE BASES POUNDED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23940, 6 May 1943, Page 5

JAPANESE BASES POUNDED

AIR RAIDS NORTH OP AUSTRALIA DUTCH NEW GUINEA AREA (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 5. In spite of bad weather, Allied bombers of the South-west Pacific Command on Tuesday struck at Japanese bases in Dutch New Guinea, the Dutch East Indies, and New Britain. Babo on McCluer Gulf, Dutch New Guinea, was heavily attacked. For nearly an hour Liberators bombed the barracks, workshops, and jetties in the early morning. The raid was made in’ wind and rain. Big fires were started, and aircraft caught on the ground were destroyed. A former Dutch seaplane anchorage and air base, Babo is also the site of oil wells. Vessels up to 8000 tons could tie up at the jetty. The operation involved a 1400-mile trip for the Liberators, which, were intercepted by six enemy floatplanes on their way home. In a brief battle over Trangan Island in the Aru group, one interceptor was certainly destroyed and another probably destroyed. Japanese luggers and barges were attacked both in the Dutch East Indies and New Britain areas. Off Tanjandoe Island, west of the Kei group, a Hudson unit bombed and machine-gunned a number of small craft. Liberators operating over Lolbau Island and Kibe Bay, east of Willaumez Peninsula, New Britain, made similar attacks. The results are not reported.

NAVAL CLASH IN ALEUTIANS

AMERICAN AND ENEMY FORCES

THREE JAPANESE SHIPS HIT

WASHINGTON, May 4. “An announcement may now be made regarding additional details of the surface engagement between a light American patrol force and a Japanese force to the west of Attu on March 26,” states a United States Navy communique.

“The American force consisted of one heavy cruiser and four destroyers, which were patrolling in the area south-east of Komandorski Island. The enemy force was composed of two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, six destroyers, and two transports, which were headed eastwards towards the Aleutians. Firing opened at *long range, and the engagement continued for three hours and a half. Hits were scored on both sides.

"At the start of the engagement the enemy force was to the east of the American force, and in manoeuvring for reverse positions three Americans destroyers launched torpedo attacks, which caused the enemy to break off the engagement and withdraw. “The. extent of the damage inflicted on the enemy is not definitely known, but shell hits were scored on both Japanese heavy cruisers and one light cruiser. Minor damage was sustained by the American vessels, and the casualties were extremely light.”

MORE SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT

AMERICAN PRODUCTION IN APRIL

(Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 4, In Washington, the United States Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Knox) told a press conference that the Navy had reached peak production in aircraft and ships. Record deliveries of both were made in April. The number of new vessels of all classes, except landing craft, completed during the first four months of the year, was equivalent to a 25 per cent, increase in the numerical strength of the Fleet and its auxiliaries since January 1.

Colonel Knox said that the number of combat naval aeroplanes produced in April had reached four figures for the first time.

Repeating that sinkings of Allied ships in April were lower than in Mai’ch, Colonel Knox disclosed that the number of Allied attacks against enemy submarines had been greatly stepped up, because of additional escort ships and air coverage, He said it was impossible to estimate how successful these increased attacks were, but the number of enemy submarines operating in April had not significantly risen. Colonel Knox said that the new type of destroyer escort was very satisfactory against submarines.

JAPAN’S STOCKS OF MATERIALS

SHORTAGE ADMITTED BY INDUSTRIALIST (Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 4. An admission by Kisanosuke Yamada, a high official of the Japanese Mitsubishi group of war industries, that Japan’s stocks of materials would last for only a short period, was quoted by tire Tokyo radio. Yamada added: “Japan is pitted against the productive strength of Britain and America. Ships, aeroplanes, and ammunition are being produced at a tremendous rate in America.”

The Vichy radio reports that the Japanese Cabinet has approved the total mobilisation of manpower, raw materials, and fuel. Increased numbers of young women will be employed in industry.

PACIFIC SUBMARINE WAR

SIX ENEMY VESSELS SUNK

(Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 4. A United States Navy communique reports the following submarine successes in the Pacific and Far East waters: two destroyers, one mediumsized tanker, one medium-sized cargo ship, one medium-sized supply ship, and one medium-sized transport sunk, and one large transport damaged and probably sunk. These actions have not previously been announced.

MASHED POTATO POWDER

NEW BRITISH FOOD PRODUCT (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, May 4. The Minister of Food (Lord Woolton) has announced the latest kind of dehydrated food. It is mashed potato powder, which can be reconstituted within one minute by adding boiling water.

Details of how the potato powder can be prepared are being forwarded to New Zealand. This form of food is most valuable for supplying troops and also for saving shipping space. Dehydration is now being generally applied to a number of foods. The latest experiments have been carried out on plums, apples, pears, greengages, damsons, cherries, and loganberries, with what are reported to be excellent results.

Resources of Madagascar. The Ministry of Production says that steps are being taken to revive economic relations between Madagascar and the Allied nations, so that its resources will be available for the war effort. Rugby, May 4.