AIR BATTLE TRIUMPH

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 226, 19 June 1943, Page 5

AIR BATTLE TRIUMPH

American Fighter Tally Over Guadalcanal DAMAGE TWO SHIPS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received June 18, 8.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 18. A United States naval communique which, was issued in Washington yesterday stated: “A brief report which has been received from the South Pacific reveals that in an air battle over Guadalcanal on Wednesday United States planes shot down 32 Japanese bombers and 45 Zero fighters. Six American fighters are missing.” The raid was a costly fiasco for the Japanese, who succeeded in damaging only two ships. This was Japan’s greatest aerial defeat since the battle of Santa Cruz last October, when she lost 1 56 planes in an action which extended over a much longer period. Some details of the smashing American victory are given by an Australian war correspondent in the Solomons.

At 2 p.m. on Wednesday a swarm of 120 dive-bombers and fighters bent on attacking Allied shipping was intercepted by a “substantial” American force. “Zeros began to fall from the skies like falling leaves,” writes the war . correspondent. “Forty-five were destroyed, along with 32 dive-bombers, and a dozen more limped north badly damaged.

"One of the two Allied vessels damaged was a Liberty ehip, which suffered a bomb hit. She was beached for salvaging. A smaller ship was hit and set on fire, but the flames were brought under control. Nine men were killed on this vessel.” Since the American Marines first stormed the beaches of Guadalcanal on July 8 of last year the Solomons campaign has cost the Japanese'lo23 planes destroyed. During the 11 days of this month the Japanese have lost 142 aircraft in the area.

The heavy Japanese air attacks against the American positions on Guadalcanal this month have been regarded by some observers as attempts to interfere with the Allied supply line to the southern Pacific area. The attacks give further evidence that the Japanese still hold powerful air strength along the flank of this supply route. An American communique which was issued earlier today reported that Japanese positions on New Georgia Island, ’ in the central Solomons, were raided or. Tuesday by Dauntless dive-bombers, and Avenger torpedo-bombers escorted by Wildcats. Heavy explosions were observed and fires were started. On Wednesday naval planes attacked enemy positions on Chotseul Island, starting fires.

ALLIES BOMB INDIES OIL PORT

Enemy Raid In New Guinea (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received June 18, 9.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 18. The Japanese yesterday sent 40 planes against Allied territory in the Bismarck Range country of New Guinea, inland from Madang. There had recently been nn exchange of air raids in this area, and for the third time within a week the Japanese yesterday attacked villages round Benabena at the headwaters of the Ramu River. Four huts are stated to have been destroyed in this attack, but no casualties were caused. Four other eneipy planes yesterday made the 112th raid on Port Moresby. They caused neither damage nor casualties. One of the enemy was hit by anti-aircraft fire and was last seen in flames and losing altitude.

MacArthur’s bombers were active over the South-west Pacific front yesterday, ■when eight attacks were made on enemy bases. One of the heaviest of these was made by Liberators which bombed ißoela, the former oil port on the East (Indies island of Ceram, 600 miles north of Darwin. Large fires were started. Two merchantmen and many small craft were observed in the harbour. The Dutch authorities state that the wells and oil storage, tanks at Boela were destroyed before the Japanese occupied Ceram.

In the Kai Islands our medium bombers attacked Langgoer aerodrome and started fires which were visible 40 miles away. Four anti-aircraft guns were silenced Iby direct hits. On the north coast of New Guinea our planes on a night patrol strafed a total of 20 enemy barges between iHopoi and Saidor, destroying eight and damaging the remainder. The Japanese aerodromes at Cape Gloucester (New Britain) and Madang '(New Guinea), and enemy installations at Sorong (Dutch New Guinea),. Hooke [lsland, in Vitiaz Strait, and Salamaua '(northern New Guinea) were also attacked.

INVASION TOPIC

Mr. Curtin Defends Recent Statement

(Received June IS. 10 p.m.) CIAINIBEIRiRA, June 18. “Anything I have said about Australia’s position has been strictly in accord with the state of the war, and quite regardless of politics,” ’Mr. Curtin said today when he met pressmen at the Prime Minister’s lodge, where he is convalescing after a throat infection..

Mr. Curtin denied the suggestion that his “recent optimistic statement was delayed iby realization of the jWsition that existed some months ago.” He said there had bepn vast changes since that'time. “My statement that rhe enemy will not be able to invade this country is not based on any presumption o£ military knowledge or strategy, but on knowledge of the resources available and on competently made assessments.” Mr. Curtin is expected to make a statement on the progress of the war early in the. Parliamentary sittings, beginning next Monday. His doctors have refused him permission to attend the Melbourne conference of the trade unions on Saturday. Acting for Mr. Curtin, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Forde, will deliver the main address at the conference. which, by Mr. Curtin’s absence, is deprived of much of its significance.

ALLIES ON PARADE Review In New Caledonia

NEW CALEDONIA, June TO. Crowds applauded this morning while French, American and 'New Zealand troops marched past the saluting base at which stood Admiral Halsey, Governor Montehamp (who commands the local French forces), and Generals Harmon, Dincoin, and Barrowclough. The review was held in celebration of Allied victories in North Africa.

_ It was recalled locally that the last time Npumeans saw New Zealanders on parade was in August, 1014, when the Expeditionary Force was en route to occupy Western Samoa.

This will probably .be Governor Montchamp’s last public appearance before he leaves to join the Fighting French forces ♦verseas.

Tile day was also celebrated as Joan of Arc Day, and as the anniversary of the heroic defence of Bir Haeheim in which New Caledonian troops (15 of whom are now back in Noumea) played a courageous part, 'losing among others their commanding officer. Colonel Felix Broche. It is announced that, an airmail service has been inaugurated, thereby reducing the time occupied in the transit of mail matter to the New Zealand forces in the Pacific from two weeks to a few days.

PACIFIC WAR ZONE Certainty Of Ultimate Victory LONDON, June 17. “The certainty of ultimate victory applies in the Pacific as well as in Europe,” the Australian Minister of External Affairs, Dr. Eyatt, told a Press conference here. “It is often supposed that the defeat of Japan will take much longer than that of Germany, but I believe that by economic employment of our increasing resources the interval between the defeat of Germany and that of Japan can be made very short.” The theme of Dr. Evatt’s address was the improvement in the Pacific situation since he addressed a similar gathering a little more than a year ago. Then Australia had fewer than 10 tanks and not a single modern fighter plane. He said Mr. Churchill’s allocation of Spitfires had been of inestimable value to Australia. The emphasis placed on Pacific operations by Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt since the Washington talks showed that the tide was turning. “Australia’s view has always been that, without prejudicing the objective of destroying Hitler, the Japanese can be prevented from consolidating and kept moving backward, and that the United Nations can not only expect unremitting pressure against Japan, but can extend the areas of pressure to many places which are especially advantageous to reoccupy or especially disadvantageous to allow Japan to consolidate,” he said. Subsequently Dr. Evatt spoke at the British Labour Party conference. He declared that history would credit Labour with a splendid contribution to victory. Already the workers of the United Nations had won the battle of production. ■

Commenting on Dr. Evatt’s review of the changed war situation in the Pacific, the “Daily Mail” says editorially: “Thought Australian politicians have often been somewhat vocal, we know the people of Australia, ns well as those of New Zealand, are working like giants to help beat the Axis in Europe as well as Asia. As always they are fighting like giants too. When the full facts are known, it will be found that the Australians were given one of the toughest jobs of the entire war. When we have beaten Hitler, nothing will please the British more than to swing the full strength of this country into the fight against Japan.”