JAPANESE BASE BOMBED

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23941, 7 May 1943, Page 5

JAPANESE BASE BOMBED

Allied Attack On Wewak % CARGO SHIP LEFT BURNING (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 6. A 5000-ton cargo vessel was left listing and burning and two 500-ton ships were probably damaged by Allied heavy bombers in an attack on Wewak. The ships were landing supplies for the largest concentration of Japanese troops on the north-east coast of New Guinea.

Liberators made a brief raid lasting five minutes, sending their bombs crashing on the enemy occupied town and shipping in the harbour. General MacArthur’s communique to-day says: “In a dusk attack our heavy units bombed the town and enemy shipping near Kairuru Island, scoring several direct hits on a 5000-ton cargo vessel which was left listing and on fire. Heavy bombers falling on the town and the waterfront caused large explosions and fires, and possibly damaged two 500-ton ships near a jetty. Nine enemy fighters attempting interception were driven off and one was damaged. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered. All our aeroplanes returned.” The last reported attack on Wewak was by Flying Fortresses on Anzac Day, when a large fuel dump on the aerodrome was destroyed. Allied aeroplanes on Wednesday were also over Timika, in Dutch New Guinea, and Toeal, in the Kei Islands. The strong enemy fighter opposition encountered over Wewak supplements earlier reports of increased Zero patrol activity. Strong formations of Japanese fighters have been encountered by our reconnaissance bombers over Cape Gloucester, Gasmata, and Talasea, in New Britain, as well as Wewak, in the north-eastern sector, FASTEST PLANE IN WORLD MOSQUITO’S SECRETS REVEALED NON STOP FLIGHT TO RUSSIA (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 5. It is revealed officially that the Mosquito is the fastest aeroplane in operation in the world. It has flown from Britain to Malta in an afternoon and also to Russia non-stop in the morning and returning to Britain in the afternoon. The Mosquito is one of the most versatile warplanes operating in several versions as a day or night bomber, long-range day fighter, and also as an intruder. It is lighter, cheaper, and quicker to build, and also is the only entirely new operational aircraft designed since the war and used extensively against the enemy.

The basic fighter may have four 20millimetre cannon and four .303 machine-guns all mounted in the nose, giving a highly concentrated fire. The basic bomber carries 20001b of bombs with a fuel range which brings the whole of Germany within reach. The Luftwaffe has nothing to match it. Air commentators claim that the Mosquito is likely to remain on top because other types with increased speed are being developed. The Mosquito was operating 22 months after it was designed, which is a world’s record. It has the most widely, dispersed production of any aeroplane. The aeronautical correspondent of the ‘‘Daily Express’’ ■ reports that Mr. Churchill has just reviewed the world’s latest and most secret ' warplanes, many of which are so revolutionary in design that even the rest of the aircraft industry had not heard of them previously. They represent the cream of the products of the secret research departments of British aircraft firms. They include heavy and medium bombers, reconnaissance air.craft, and fighters. OPERATIONS IN BURMA (8.0. W.) RUGBY. May 5. While so far no land assault against the Allied stronghold of Buthidaung on the Arakan front in Burma has been made, states a message from Calcutta, our patrolling has been vigorous and it has extended over a front stretching from east of the Mayu river to the Bay of Bengal. There have been a few minor clases, including an action for a feature westward of the Vayu Hills. In contrast to the lull on land, the Japanese Air Force has been more active and has raided Maungdaw Rathidaung, and Balibazar. Only small dam. age was caused and there were a few casualties. The enemy air activity may foreshadow a resumption of attacks on Buthidaung and Maungdaw, but it is more probable that the raids are just a show of Japanese spitefulness.

BATTLE IN TAIHAN MOUNTAINS

CHINESE RESISTING FIERCELY

CRec. 11.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, May 5. Chinese troops are fighting desperately to defend their strongholds in the Taihan mountains. They have killed almost 2000 Japanese in a fierce battle in the south-east of Shansi Province, says the Chungking correspondent of the United Press. The Chinese, however, were forced to yield a strategic centre to the Invaders. The Chinese abandoned the rural town of Tunyaotai after the destruction of all buildings by enemy air and artillery bombardment.

MEASURE AGAINST STRIKES

BILL ADOPTED BY U.S. SENATE

(Rec. 11.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 6. The Senate has adopted an antistrike bill making it a criminal offence to instigate a strike in war factories taken over by the Government. The bill, which was sent to the House of Representatives, gives Congressional sanction for the Government seizure and operation of strikebound factories, and establishes the War Labour Board’s statutory power to settle disputes.

The present boari operates under Presidential order and the factories seized under Mr Roosevelt’s executive war powers. The Washington correspondent of the “New York HeraldTribune” says that the bill has been lying on the legislative shelf for months, and was taken down as a direct result of the coal strike.

Tojo Visits Manila.—The Tokyo radio has announced that General Tojo has arrived in Manila on a military inspection trip. He plans a frank exchange of views with Jorge Vargas,-chairman of the Philippines Executive Commission. The United Press states that the! announcement follows the Japanese ad-' mission that guerrillas are still active in the Philippines.—New York, May 6. i