DAYLIGHT RAIDS MADE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23948, 15 May 1943, Page 5

DAYLIGHT RAIDS MADE

ENEMY BASE IN NEW BRITAIN ALLIED ATTACKS ON RABAUL (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 14. Daring daylight raids were made on Thursday on the Japanese base of Gasmata in New Britain. Mitchell medium bombers, Flying Fortresses, and Beaufighters bombed and strafed the aerodrome and the waterfront. Three enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Mitchells made the initial attacks and were followed immediately by the Beaufighters in low-level strafing sweeps. Meanwhile other Flying Fortresses bombed the Lakunai and Vunakanau aerodromes at Rabaul in attacks before dawn. The results are not reported. Other Allied bombers on offensive reconnaissance on Thursday bombed Lorengau in the Admiralty Islands, Cape Gloucester in New Britain, and Finschhafen and Bogodkim on the north New Guinea coast. Bogodkim lies about 12 miles south of Madang. Early on Thursday night two Japanese aeroplanes raided Fort Moresby, but the six bombs they dropped fell harmlessly in the bush. AIR ATTACKS IN 'SOLOMONS RAIDS BY HEAVY BOMBERS (8.0. W.) RUGBY, May 13. A United States Navy communique states that on the morning of May 12 Flying Fortresses bombed Japanese positions off Ballale Island in the Shortland Island area, starting a large fire. Other Fortresses attacked Kahili in the Shortland Island area, starting a number of fires which appeared to be burning enemy aircraft. Later in the morning Dauntless and Avenger torpedo bombers, escorted by Warhawks and Corsairs, attacked Japanese installations at Munda, New Georgia. On the night of May 12 light surface units bombarded Japanese positions at Vila and Munda, Another communique announces the names of the Allied naval vessels sunk by air attack near Guadalcanar on April 7 as the United States destroyer Aaron, the war tanker Kanawha, and the New Zealand corvette Moa. JAPANESE PATROLS ' WORSTED CLASHES IN NEW GUINEA AREA SYDNEY. May 14. Japanese patrols have been worsted in the latest clashes between opposing ground forces near Mubo and Komiatum in northern New Guinea. These are reported in General MacArthur’s communique to-day. The enemy suffered 60 casualties in the fighting on Lababia ridge east of Mubo and have been driven back to their original positions on Green's Hill. Another party of about 80 Japanese moving inland about a mile north of Komiatum were ambushed and left 3") dead behind them. Many more were wounded. Reciprocal Trade,—The United States House of Representatives has sent to the Senate a bill extending the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act for two years, states a Washington message.— Rugby, May 18.