JAP NAVAL DEFEAT

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 269, 9 August 1943, Page 4

JAP NAVAL DEFEAT

After Fall Of Munda

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright ) (Special Außtrallan Correspondent.) (Received August 8, 9 p.m. SYDNEY, August 8.

A Japanese naval force of four warships has been wiped out in the Central Solomons. In an hour-long torpedo and gunfire action with Allied surface units in Vella Straits shortly before midnight on Friday, an enemy cruiser and two large destroyers were sunk and another destroyer was probably sunk. No Allied ships were Jost General MacArthur’s communique today says the enemy force was surprised when it was apparently attempting to run supplies to Vila, on Kolombangara Island. War correspondents in this area have suggested that Kolomibangara will be the next objective in the Allied advance up the Solomons ladder. Details of the naval action are not yet available. On the ground and in the air, too, the Japanese suffered further severe setbacks during the past 48 hours. The American jungle troops who captured Munda airfield on New Georgia last Thursday are pushing north without encountering any opposition. Routed and disorganized Japanese troops from the airfield may have retreated into the hills in this sector. All organized resistance at Munda ceased at three o’clock on Thursday afternoon. The Japanese on New Georgia continue to resist at Bairoko Harbour, eight miles from Munda. Air Assaults Continue.

Allied bombers on Saturday dropped 40 tong of explosives on enemy installations at Bairoko, which were also heavily strafed. The Bairoko garrison is believed to *be trapped. Allied Ibom'bers and fighters have 'been switching to new Solomons targets. These are mainly -in the BuinFaisi area of the Bougainville Group and at Rekata Bay, Santa Isabel Island. More than 100 bomJbers and fighters struck at Rekata Bay on Friday afternoon. Sixty-five tons of bombs were unloaded on bivouac 'areas and supply dumps and extensive damage is believed to have been caused.

Seven Zeros were shot down south of Bougainville Island, when 30 enemy fighters engaged in a running battle with about half their number of Corsairs, United States Navy fighters. One Corsair was lost. At Vellalavella a Catalina on night patrol eaught a large enemy barge transporting reinforcements into the area. Direct bits burned' out the barge and the Catalina, sweeping low, strafed survivors who had been flung into the sea.

The Japanese air force in the Solomons made its strongest sortie for some time when 60 dive-bombers and fighters raided the Allied harbour at Rendova. They caused light casualties ata field hospital. Six enemy planes were destroyed. New Guinea Fighting.

In New Guinea Salamaua has again been blasted by Allied bombers. Reporting action in this area, General MacArthur’s latest communique says:— “Our heavy bombers in force attacked the area during the morning, concentrating 92 tons of 'high explosives within 20 minutes. A large fuel fire was started at the aerodrome, smoke rising 2000 feet. Explosions and fires encompassed the entire area, which was covered with a pall of smoke. Ground action was limited- to artillery exchanges.” ■Our aircraft are keeping up their attacks on enemy barges along the north New Guinea coast, several being destroyed during the weekend. At Kaukenau, in 'Dutch New 'Guinea, a small enemy 'merchantman, about 400 tons, was left stationary in a large oil slick after it had (been attacked by a medium bomber, A small Allied cargo ship has been bombed and sunk by enemy aircraft off the northern coast of Australia, in the Arafura iSea. One of the crew is missing, and three others seriously injured. Another ship rescued the survivors shortly after the attack, which was made on Friday morning.