BASE LEFT IN FLAMES

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23973, 14 June 1943, Page 5

BASE LEFT IN FLAMES

Heavy Attack On Timor RAIDS NORTH OP AUSTRALIA (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10 p.in.) SYDNEY. June 13. Koepang, the main Japanese base on the island of Timor, was left in flames on Friday when a force of 15 Liberators blew up the powerhouse and fuel installations with 42 tons of bombs. The attack was the heaviest yet made by General Mac Arthur's bombers on an objective on Timor. Koepang is the chief enemy strongpoint north-west of Australia and has been a base for Japanese air raids on several points of the Australian mainland. This Timor raid was only one of 16 made by General MacArthur’s bombers and long range fighters in the last 48 hours, when clearing weather has permitted intensification of our air attacks on enemy strongpoints. A Liberator force rained 19 tons of bombs on the Rabaul aerodromes in an attack before dawn on Friday. Thi* was the second big Allied attack in two

days against Japanese aircraft concentrations there. The Vunakanau and Rapopo aerodromes were the targets on which the Liberators released high explosive, fragmentation, and incendiary bombs. Damage to parked enemy aircraft was indicated by numerous fires in the dispersal areas. Three hostile night fighters were identified during the bombing, but they did not press an attack. Our air crews over Koepang reported widespread devastation caused by their heavy bombs. The powerhouse blew up with a terrific explosion and petrol dumps were ignited in sheets of flame.; Eight Zeros engaged the Liberators in a long running fight. Three of the enemy fighters were shot down, and a fourth was probably destroyed. One Liberator is missing. It is believed that the raid struck a damaging blow against the Japanese supply concentrations in this sector. The previous heavy raid on Koepang .took place on March 1, when Beaufighters in a strafing attack on the Pen. foei aerodrome destroyed nine Zeros and four bombers, probably destroyed eight Zeros and one bomber. A further light attack on this aerodrome was made on Saturday, but the results are not reported. Beaufighters also did heavy damage on Saturday, when they swept over the Japanese seaplane base of Taberfane in the Aru Islands in a surprise low level attack. Six floatplanes were destroyed at their moorings, and two others damaged, while a single intercepting floatplane was shot down. Babo, the Japanese base on Mcluer Gulf in Dutch New Guinea has been bombed eight times with increasing in* tensity since May 4. Catalinas making the latest attack left ’ grounded aircraft burning and started other fires in the barracks* area near the seaplane base. At Kaimana in the same sector, damaging near misses with 5001b bombs were scored within 20ft of a 2000-ton cargo ship. Over the north New Guinea coast four of our fighters on Saturday encountered a formation of 20 enemy, fighters. They attacked and shot down one Zero without loss to themselves. Our Mitchell medium bombers made two strong attacks in Salamaua, bomb, ing and strafing. Direct hits were scored On the Nuknuk bridge over the Francisco river. Beaufighters operated in strafing attacks on Komiatum, south of Salamaua, on the Japanese supply trail to Mubo. There is no fresh news of land fighting in this area. These heavy raids, it is explained, were merely a normal feature of Allied air operations in the south-west Paciflc under improved weather conditions. CHINESE CONTINUE ATTACKS HEAVY JAPANESE LOSSES (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING. June U. A Chinese Army communique says the Chinese attacking at Sungtze have recaptured several points south of the city, inflicting heavy casualties. Meanwhile the Japanese in the Chientsusl sector in the south of the Hupeh Province are showing signs of collapse, after suffering heavy losses. The Chinese have destroyed several sections of the Canton-Hankow railway between Hankow and Yochow in . a drive to sever communications and supply lines and isolate Yochow, which the Chinese have twice raided. Fierce fighting continues north-east of Ichang and north-west of Hankow. The Japanese lost 14.290 killed, and the Chinese lost one-third of an army corps in the battle for the Taiheng Mountains, according to the National Military Council, in a war review. Chinese counter-attacks have recovered practically all the lost positions, but the enemy is reinforcing and replenishing his supplies, indicating the imminence of another Japanese attack—the sixteenth in this region. The War Ministry has issued new regulations designed to improve the treatment of recruits in the Chinese Army, who henceforth will be permitted to bring their own blankets, shoes, uniforms, and pocket money. Officers who confiscate recruits’ belongings will be severely punished. The new regulations also provide for every soldier to receive 24 ounces of rice daily, “to which no sand or other foreign matter maybe added.’’ Furthermore, officers are required to share their men’s barracks, and are not permitted to lock soldiers up overnight. The Chinese have gained a new success north-east of Ichang and northwest of Hankow, according to the Associated Press correspondent in Chungking. The Chinese occupied Wangchiachang. north-east of Ichang, after an all-night battle, in which 300 of the enemy were killed and many others wounded. The Chinese have penetrated to Yingshan. 90 miles north-east of Hankow. inflicting heavy casualties. Heavy fighting is in progress north of Tungting lake, where the reinforced Japanese have been counter-attacking fof two days. MRS ROOSEVELT’S PLANS AUSTRALIAN VISIT POSSIBLE (Rec. 10 p.m.) CANBERRA, June 13. Reports from Washington that Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Mr Roosevelt, may visit Australia shortly, have bsen received here with pleasure. The Prime Minister <Mr J. Curtin) said: “The Commonwealth Government and the people of Australia will be glad to welcome this gracious lady if she can find it possible to visit Australia. The Government hopes she can.”