ADVANCE BEYOND SAIDOR

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 127, 24 February 1944, Page 5

ADVANCE BEYOND SAIDOR

Mot River Crossed PATROL CLASHES ON BOUGAINVILLE

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received February 23, 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 23.

The 42ud aerial attack of the year against Rabaul was made on Sunday. Allied Soloinons-based! Mitchell, bombers, escorted by Corsair lighters, encountered no Zero opposition. Enemy working parties had scarcely finished repairing the runways of Lakunai aerodrome when our planes struck their latest blow. Five large fires were started.

Aerial reconnaissance lias revealed that the smallest number of aircraft in the history of Japanese bases are now stationed at Rabaul. Fewer than 100 tnach ines, including seaplanes, were seen in the aerodrome revetment areas and ou the harbour. The shipping concentration is a fraction of former lilrge toniiagcs, though the Japanese still have a large number of barges at the base. While the evidence does not point to a Japanese withdrawal from Rabaul, it does indicate the gradual relaxation of the enemy grip on this key strongpoini. Though the shipping tonnage in. Rabaul habrour is comparatively small, it is admitted that in spite of relentless Allied aerial poundings, the Japanese have succeeded in getting ships both iu and out of Rabaul.

In the latest attack, one raider was shot down by enemy ground defences, but tbe crew was rescued. Activity Near Saidor.

The most determined ground activity in the Saidor area of New Guinea since the Australian and United States forces linked there a fortnight ago is also reported by Genera? MacArthur’s communique today.. Striking out from Saidor, the Amtiicans captured Gabumi village, and established a bridgehead across the Mot River. Allied artillery shattered enemy concentrations near Cape Iris, killing at least 40 Japanese. In a series of patrol clashes round the American beach-head at Empress Augusta Bay, Allied ground forces killed 120 Japanese.' ' , Widespread Allied air attacks throughout the South and South-west Pacific are revealed by the latest MacArthur communique. In all sectors, 35 Japanese barges were destroyed or damaged. Major losses were inflicted by Admiral Halsey’s aircraft which destroyed 21 barges in a single sweep in the Buka area.

N.Z. SEARCH PATROLS

Rescue Of Airmen Forced Down In Sea N.Z.E.F. Official News Service. GUADALCANAL, February 13.

Patrols over a 200-mile span of ocean to locate and report the position of Allied pilots forced down in the course of strikes on enemy territory have been a new role for New Zealand Venturas operating from a forward base in the Solomons. Already their keen eyes have been responsible for the rescue, by sea or aircraft, of several Allied airmen. Their search has sometimes taken them nosing up St. George’s Channel toward Rabaul. Sometimes it has taken them skimming along the coast-lines of New Britain or New Ireland. They are always at the peak of alertness. Only the other day a Zero dived out of the sky and gave chase to a Ventura out on one of these patrols. The enemy fighter gained rapidly, but. finally sheered off when several bursts from the New Zealander’s guns, fired from 700 yards off, came too close for its comfort. On another patrol two Venturas .were able to give a helping hand to Allied colleagues in distress. One took over from four Hellcat fighters the escort to Bougainville of a damaged Avenger which was lagging behind its formation as they swept homeward from blasting Rabaul targets. The other heard a pilot calling by radio that he was circling a “ditched” airman 30 miles from Bougainville, but could not hang on much longer 'because of lack of fuel. The Ventura made for the spot at high speed and found a Corsair fighter hovering round a man on a life-raft. The bomber took over and circled the raft till it saw a high-speed launch put out from Empress Augusta Bay. The launch stopped seven miles away. The Ventura flew over to it and, finding that it had. already picked up another pilot, guided it to the man. still in the water by turning and flying repeatedly in his direction. The launch followed the cue, and another Allied airman returned safely to his base.

JAPANESE STRATEGY Drastic Changes Predicted

WASHINGTON, February 21. The “New York Herald Tribune’s” Washington correspondent says that experts forecast drastic changes in Japan ese major strategy, following the dismissal of Field-Marshal Sugiyamu ana Admiral Nagano, probably including a retirement to inner defensive positions. It is said that the swiftness of the Japanese move indicated that Truk was much harder hit than we ourselves believed or have been able to find out. Some sources see an attempt to concentrate responsibility in General Tojo 8 hands so that when defeat comes he can commit hara-kiri, absolving the rest of the High Command from blame. The Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, said that the removal of the Japanese High Command was an unmistakable sign of. confusion among our enemies and an acknowledgment that thencampaign against us had been a failure The German news agency quoted a statement by Tojo that the Japanese Cabinet had been strengthened in view of the Anglo-American offensive in the South Pacific in'order to be able to cope with a war situation which might become decisive for - Japan. The news agency also quoted the Tokio newspaper “Asahi Shimbun” as saying: “At a time when an enormous formation lias pierced the vital Marshalls line and is exerting pressure against Truk we need a system of government capable ot coping with the greatest possible strain.”

SYMPTOM OF ANXIETY Comment In Britain (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, February -23. The changes made by General Tojo are a remarkable comment'on Japan’s anxiety about the way the war is going and will have been made partly to placate critics in high places and partly to intpress the general public with the seriousness of the present situation, says the “Manchester Guardian” in an editorial. We shall note that those selected for disgrace so far have not been the commanders at the front whose failures have been many, but those responsible for the strategic direction of it, the grand planning of the war, aud to the building ot strength throughout the Empire and the organization of military intelligence. Tojo, by making himself Chief of the Army Staff, has identified himself irre vocably with whatever success or defeat the future may bring. His gesture is not unlike that of Herr Hitler when he dismissed- his generals. “Such devices are resorted to only when public confidence is severaly shaken, as it is now in Japan,” says the paper. The “Daily Telegraph” comments that Japan’s militarists have dealt themselves a new hand, but the more they change it the more it is the same thing. The latest changes have a new significance. Tojo and the fire-eaters who dictate Japan’s policy are now convinced that nothing will save them but complete totalitarianism. Referring to Tojo’s previous announcement that Japan intended to fight till the British Empire aud the United States were forced to their knees, it adds: “The simultaneous dismissal of the chiefs wti: planned strategy and directed operations is an abject confession of failure comoincd with a futile attempt to cover the folly of the militarist schemes by exhibiting