MOUNTING DAMAGE

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 7

MOUNTING DAMAGE

Big Borneo Oil Centre (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received October 17, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 17. Extensive damage has been done to the important Japanese oil installations at Balik Papan, in Borneo, by bombers of General MacArthur’s command. Four large-scale attacks on this long-range objective have been made during the past fortnight. A total bomb-load of 400 tons has been dropped. In spite of heavy losses the Japanese persist in mounting considerable interceptor strength in the defence of Balik Papan. So far they have lost 170 planes protecting this target, while Allied losses have been 10 bombers and six escorting fighters. Tlie latest Allied mass raid on Balik Papan was made on Sunday and followed harassing attacks throughout. Saturday night. The Japanese are estimated to have put up 100 interceptors, most of which were shot down by Allied Liberators and their escorting Lightnings and Thunderbolts, which made one of the longest fighter flights of the war—over 1500 miles. Bombers started a fire among the refineries and oil storage depots. The previous big attack last Wednesday destroyed a cracking plant and severely damaged a paraffin refinery. South-west Pacific bombers were also paying daily attention to the Celebes, which serves ns the hub of the elaborate defence system developed by the Japanese through the Moluccas. Last month nearly 3000 tons of bombs were dropped in the Celebes area. Today’s communique reports destruction at Mandado, one of the island's three main ports, of a 3000-ton freighter, a 1000-ton freighter, two coastal vessels and a number of small cruft. Other big ports are Macassar and Gorontalo. Several smaller ports have also, been developed by the JapandSse, while the island serves, too, as an important air and seaplane base. The persistent bombing of the Celebes targets is doing much to open the road to the Philippines for the Allied forces.