BOMBARDMENT'OF MUNDA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23997, 12 July 1943, Page 5

BOMBARDMENT'OF MUNDA

Attacks By Sea And Air DRIVE BY LAND FORCES (Special Australian Corresp., N.ZJPA.) (Rec. 10.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 11. Allied aeroplanes, warships, ana artillery have subjected Munda to a terrific bombardment. Mynda, on New Georgia Island, is the most important Japanese airfield and base in the central Solomons. More than 100 American bombers, with strong fighter protection, on Friday dropped 70 tons of bombs, while destroyers and heavy artillery on nearby Rendova .Island put down a barrage of shells. This battering was continued on Saturday when American torpedo and dive-bombers dropped another 67 tons of high explosives on the base. Meanwhile American land forces are slowly closing their pincer drive on Munda. . , . . They are reported to be in contact with the Japanese about three miles from the air base on its southern side War correspondents in the area say it is believed that some enemy reinforcements succeeded in getting through to Munda where the garrison, which is estimated to number about 5000, is dug into a naturally strong defensive area. Referring to operations m the aoiomons, the latest communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters savs: — , , “New Georgia.—Our torpedo and dive-bombers, with fighter cover, attacked the enemy base at Munda during the morning. Sixty-seven tons of heavy bombs were dropped on antiaircraft positions and bivouac and sup-, ply areas. Our ground forces have established a road block on the trail between Munda and Bairoko. Two enemy groups attempting a passage were repulsed with at least 60 known dead Our casualties were light. Dispatches indicate that elements of our forces have secured Enogai Inlet, two miles north-east of Bairoko. Two enemy fighters and four bombers ineffectively raided an artillery position. , . , . “Solomons Sea.—During the night our medium and heavy bombers attacked an enemy naval force of light cruisers and destrcyers approaching New Georgia, scoring two hits with 5001b bombs. Further results were not observed. “Vila (Kolombangara Island).—One of our heavy units in a night raid bombed Vila aerodrome. At dawn our medium units, with fighter escort, bombed and strafed an enemy destroyer beached on the south-east coast of Kolombangara.

“Ganonga Island.—Our medium units strafed an enemy outpost at Buri.” The United States Director of War Information (Mr Elmer Davis), broadcasting to-night, said the landing forces in New Guinea and New Georgia were making slow but satisfactory progress. After their first counterattack on Rendova Island with obsolete aeroplanes, the Japanese were again using more modern machines, and the disproportion between the losses and curs had declined somewhat. Air Umbrella Although formations of Japanese aeroplanes have made intermittent sorties, the constant air umbrella maintained over the American beachheads on New Georgia has prevented damaging enemy aerial blows. .The Allies have mustered their greatest concentrations of aircraft in the Pacific. Under this aerial protection an endless stream of small craft is building up supplies at the newly-won beach-heads. One of the most important Allied staging bases on New Georgia is at Viru, where Marines routed the enemy by a surprise blow from the back country. Here, although some hundreds of Japanese scattered through the jungle are exploiting their nuisance value by sniping American patrol£ the position Is securely held.

Big coastal guns installed by the Japanese at Viru were never used against the Marines. The Japanese apparently had prepared to defend Viru only against seaborne invasion, and had not anticipated that a threatening force could traverse the heavy jungle swamps and rivers to make a rear attack. When the Americans did attack from this quarter the Japanese were unable to swing their big guns to defend Viru against a victorious assault.

In New Guniea Allied aeroplanes are supporting the ground forces in the Salamaua-Mubo area by heavy attacks against Japanese positions. No enemy air interception was encountered when a large force of our bombers plastered the enemy defence area with 46 tons of high explosives on Saturday. Enemy troop concentrations have been attacked.

Allied troops are still in contact with the Japanese in the Bobdubi area, five miles inland from Salamaua. and on the ridges slightly north-east of Mubo village.

FIFTH COLUMN FOB ALLIES

SICILIANS’ ATTITUDE TO FASCISTS HATRED OF GERMAN TROOPS (Rec. 12.20 a.m.) NEW YORK. July 11“Sicily contains Italy’s greatest fifth column,”, says Herbert Matthews, the “New York Times” correspondent m North Africa. “The Sicilians have been Mussolini’s greatest worry. They were the last to succumb to the Fascist movement, the first to work openly against it. They have traditions of freedom which the mainland has forgotten. , , . . , "The Sicilians who have been forced to suffer the presence of German troops for two years hate them virulently. They are reported to have stabbed German sentries, conducted sabotage, and caused street fighting and rioting. On the other hand, the Sicilians admire the Americans and don’t dislike the English. Most Sicilian families have relatives living in the United States. “The Allies cannot expect the Sicilians’ active help in the early stages of the campaign, but when the main armed resistance is broken the Germans will be fortunate to escape with their throats uncut. Many Fascist officials may also have a tough time. This will be the first test of popular Italian reaction to the Fascist regime when it is not bolstered by German arms.”

The Office of War Information has disclosed that the invasion was preceded by the dropping of millions of pamphlets, and special broadcasts designed to break the Sicilians’ morale. A group of Office of War Information representatives accompanied the invadin'' armies to conduct psychological warfare. The next step will be the release of pamphlets urging enemy soldiers to surrender. General Sikorski.—The body of General Sikorski was landed at a southwest port to-night. It was brought from Gibraltar in a Polish destroyer. —B.O. W., Rugby, July 10.