RAID NORTH OF JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24053, 15 September 1943, Page 5

RAID NORTH OF JAPAN

AMERICANS ATTACK PARAMUSIR AREA

TEN BOMBERS MISSING {NJS. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept 18. A formation of United States Navy medium bombers successfully attacked the Paramusir Island area, in j the Kurile Islands, north of Japan, to-day. The Navy communique announcing this adds: “In spite of heavy flak and fighter interception the bombers scored numerous hits on ground installations, set fire to a transport, which was left sinking, damaged another transport, and hit three cargo vessels, one of which exploded. The bombers also strafed and set on fire numerous small craft,

“Over 25 fighters attacked the American planes. In a 50 minutes' running engagement the Americans shot down 10 and probably three more of the enemy. The Americans lost four planes through enemy action, and six others failed to return to their base.”

The Chinese Central News Agency reports that a formation of Chinabased American bombers to-day blasted Japanese installations in Hong Kong, causing heavy damage.

ALLIED RAID ON MACASSAR

JAPANESE BASE IN CELEBES

MANY FIRES STARTED (Rec. 11 p.m.) - SYDNEY, Sept. 14. Allied heavy bombers on Sunday night struck a blow against the Jap-anese-occupied base at Macassar, on the south-west coast’ of Celebes. Twenty-seven tons of explosives and incendiaries were dropped on the waterfront and barrack areas. • Direct bits started many fires ' in buildings and warehouses near the wharves, in the oil storage tank area, and 'in the centre of a military barracks. Fires were also started' at the Mandai aerodrome. One bomber was lost. JAPANESE BARGE TRAFFIC ATTACKS IN CENTRAL SOLOMONS (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 14. “The air and surface war against Japanese barges is warming the seats of the enemy’s pants. Burn them up." This message was sent by Admiral Halsey to Major-General Twining’s airmen and Commodore Moran's motor torpedo-boat crews, who are harassing the Japanese barge traffic. This traffic is the enemy’s lifeline supplying and reinforcing the central Solomons. Unless the Japanese break Admiral Halsey’s blockade, their garrisons on Kolombangara and Vella Lavella islands are doomed. The barges range in size from small wooden boats to armoured and strongly armed craft 100 feet long, which can give motor tor-pedo-boats a good fight. Admiral HaU sey’s forces last week sank 30 barges carrying fuel and ammunition. General Mac Arthur’s latest communique reports that light naval craft damaged five enemy bargps during a night patrol in the Kula Gulf. Gunfire from the barges and from shore positions caused minor damage to our units. Allied fighters strafed and destroyed a Japanese barge and fuel dump on Kolombangara Island. CANADA REDUCES HOME ARMY TWO DIVISIONS TO BE DISBANDED (Rec. 8 p.m.) OTTAWA, Sept. 13. The Canadian Minister of Defence (Mr J. L. Ralston) has announced a reorganisation of the Canadian Home Army. The 7th and Bth Divisions will be disbanded and the 6th Division partially disbanded. The plan particularly affects the portion of the in Canada allotted to operational tasks, and the reorganisation will reduce Canada’s home defences by 20,000 rtien. Mr Ralston explained that the step was orte of a number taken or coni templated in the light of the improved strategic situation and the pressing manpower shortage, and because the Nayy had passed the expansion stage.

PRISONERS WORKING FOR JAPAN fled cross intervenes (Rec. 8 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Sept. 13. The international Red Cross intervened with the Japanese Government over, the treatment of 6000 white prisoners of war drafted for construction .work in the jungles of the Thai-land-Burma border, on the new Bang-kok-Rangoon railway. As a consequence, says the United Press of America, the prisoners' food, quarters, and medical attention were improved, but not before an undisclosed number had died.

R.A.F. ATTACKS IN

BURMA

LONDON, Sept. 13.

“Yesterday Royal Air Force Beaufighters successfully attacked railroad communications near Maungdaw,” says a communique from India. “Other patrols attacked sampans, sinking at least nine and damaging others. Over the Mayu peninsula Hurricanes inflicted casualties on Japanese troops at Sinoh. All our aircraft returned. “It is now known that in a divebombing attack by Vengeance aircraft on. Buthidaung on August 31, more thah 150 Japanese were killed, and that an attack on troop positions at Maungdaw on August 30 was very effective." “The time is ripe to invade Burma. I should like to sell that idea to a lot of people,” said Colonel Combs, commander of the American air task force in India, in a statement in New Delhi. "Operations hitherto conducted against Japanese-occupied Burma will show a dividend when we make a mpve,” he added.

PRESIDENT OF CHINA LONDON. Sept. 13. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek has been elected President of China, in succession to Dr. Lin Sen, who died recently. The President has been invested with full powers in all Spheres, including foreign relations, according to an instrument of constitution passed by the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, under a revision of the National Government’s organic law, becomes Commander-in-Chief of China’s land, air, and naval forces.

He told the Central Executive Committee that he hoped the Communism would redeem their pledge of 1937 to give up the Communist movement, dissolve the Soviet organisation in China, and disband the Red Army, incorporating it in the National Army of China. He added: “We should recognise that the Chinese Communists’ problem is purely one of political means.” The Central Committee decided to abolish the present system of political tutelage or one-party rule withm a year after the war. The Committee also confirmed. Marshal Chiang as President of the Executive Yuan, and decided that the heads of the four Other Yuans should continue In office.