ENEMY BOMBING ATTACK

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23944, 11 May 1943, Page 5

ENEMY BOMBING ATTACK

SMALL AUSTRALIAN ISLAND ONLY LIGHT DAMAGE CAUSED (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 10. Seven Japanese medium bombers bombed and strafed Millingimbi Island. 300 miles cast of Darwin, about noon on Sunday. They caused only light damage and casualties. Single Allied Beauflghters intercepted the raiders, and damaged one of them. Millingimbi, in Castlereagh Bay. is near the north-eastern tip of Arnheim Land, in the Northern Territory. The bombers dropped "daisy-cutter” bombs on the airstrip. Formerly a mission station, Millingimbi is the eighth point in Australian territory to be bombed by Japanese aeroplanes. The other centres are Darwin and Katherine, in the Northern Territory, Broome, Wyndham. and Port Hedland, in Western Australia, and Mossman and Townsville, in' Queensland. AUSTRALIAN POLITICS FEDERAL ELECTION PROSPECTS LABOUR GOVERNMENT’S POSITION (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9,30 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 10. Ranging shots in Australia’s forthcoming Federal election battle are now being fired. Both Government . and Opposition leaders have begun active campaigning. Although normally due in November, surprise elections are possible in July. Labour, which at present is holding office by virtue of two Independent votes, expects to increase its strength at the ballot. Much, however, will depend upon developments in the intervening period. The Government's greatest electoral asset at the moment is perhaps best assessed as “the public’s belief in the sincerity and strength of Mr Curtin’s war purpose as Prime Minister." Of the many whips now being employed by the Opposition to flog Labour in office those most effective appear to be allegations of a vacillating attitude towards industrial disputes, and efforts to introduce socialism under the guise of war necessity. Recent divisions among Opposition party members have not assisted the election chances of the joint out of office group. And in many quarters it is felt, too, that success in the coming elections will require more dynamic leadership than may be afforded by Mr A. W. Fadden. Nevertheless, the position is a delicately balanced one. with no present clear-cut indication of the direction in which voting may swing. 4 . ■ . In the 1940 Federal elections Labour polled 1,911,000 votes, against 1,977,000 for the joint Opposition. Mr Curtin won the Fremantle seat by only 641 votes, but his high personal prestige is expected to give him a substantial majority in the next polling. While Mr Curtin is personally desirous that Parliament shall see out its full term of office, obstructionist tactics by the Senate Opposition majority may precipitate a crisis during the forthcoming June Parliamentary session, provoking elections in July. Many Australians believe that Federal elections are a mistake, and a National Government should be formed. “Elections, with their weakening cleavage, are only made necessary by the refusal to form a National Government," writes Sir Keith Murdoch. ‘The hot breath of Japan scorches our very cheeks. The red embrace is held off by the sacrifice of our dearest ana finest sons. But we are compelled to deal with the internal trouble of an election-and accept its bitterness and are advanced by Sir Keith Murdoch for the failure to form a National Government. These, he says are: “First,-the Labour Party is under the sway of professional trade union leaders, who insist tnst an in* ternal class fight must be pursued at any cost,' and, second, the Labour caucus is revelling in the joys of office, pay, and power.” ... • There appears to be no likelihood, however, that the elections will be abandoned in favour of a National Government. One substantial straw in the wind is tentative ‘vote catching legislation in the shape of a bill now being drafted for the June session to introduce national unemployment and sickness benefits. And, too, Mr Curtin, responding to genuine Public unrest about the chances of socialism by stealth, has declared: We have not socialised Australia and we do not in tend to do it just because we ard at Political correspondents comment that the statement offers no positive insurance against socialisation, enemy operations IN CHINA JAPANESE CAPTURE OF NANCHENG (Rec. 9.50 p.m.) CHUNGKING, May •: The Chinese killed and wounded 200 Japanese and destroyed four steam launches when they repulsed fresh attempts to land on the south shore ox Lake Tungting. in Shangtung Province, but the Japanese captured the town of Nancheng to the west of the lake. Observers say that the operations appear to be designed to cut communications, and despoil ripening crops and disperse Chinese concentrations. The Japanese are also possibly contemplating a new drive against Changsha, the provincial capital which they reached three times but were unable to hold. . , . - To-day’s Chinese communique states that between 40 and 50 steam launches laden with Japanese troops approached Yentsenchow, which is a northern suburb of Yuankiang. The Chinese in driving off landing attempts destroyed four launches and damaged six. The remaining launches fled. The Japanese renewed their offensive and broke into Nancheng. There were heavy losses on both sides during street fighting. Fighting continues ia the vicinity. AMERICAN RAID ON CANTON (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. United States bombers made a heavy raid on Canton yesterday. Escorting fighters shot down 13 Zeros. The Americans lost one bomber. AUSTRALIAN ARMY’S MESSAGES ' VICTORIOUS FORCES IN NORTH AFRICA (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, May 10. The commander of the Allied land forces in the south-west Pacific (General Sir Thomas Blarney), on behalf of the Australian Army has sent messages of congratulation to the victorious North African forces. These messages are addressed to General Sir Harold Alexander, General Sir Bernard Montgomery, and LieutenantGeneral Sir Bernard Freyberg. The message to Sir Bernard Freyberg reads; “All ranks of the Australian Army are proud of the magnificent part which our brother Anzacs have played in the glorious victory in North Africa. Wc send good luck, best wishei and congratulations to you all.”