ENEMY AT THE GATES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1943, Page 5

ENEMY AT THE GATES

Minister's Warning

LONDON, Jan. 24. The Australian Minister of Shipping, Mr. Beasley, said in Sydney today: "The enemy is still at our gates, and if we are to survive we must face stark reality. We cannot, and must not, under-estimate the enemy's capacity to attack the vital centres of our production." This warning came a few hours after the news that the long-drawn-out fight to clear the Jap? anese from the Papuan Peninsula had been ended. • a' Two 8000-ton ships exploded after being set ablaze by direct hits, and two 4000-ton ships sank within a few minutes of being hit. All the planes came safely home. Before dawn yesterday our heavy bombers were again over Rabaul. Shipping in the harbour, and an approaching convoy, were attacked, but the results could not be observed. Our bombers then raided the nearby Vunakanua aerodrome, where fires which were started in fuel dumps were visible 75 miles away. Bombs also fell in an aircraft dispersal area. FORTRESS'S RUNNING FIGHT. Later yesterday morning a Flying Fortress on offensive reconnaissance over Rabaul scored a direct hit and five near-misses against a 12,000----ton merchantman. Two near-misses against an 8000-ton merchantman north of Rabaul brought the ship to a standstill. Twelve Zeros intercepted the bomber, and in a running fight which lasted more than an hour five of the Zeros were destroyed and two others damaged. The Fortress returned safely to its base. In releasing the news of this destruction of enemy shipping, General Mac Arthur's headquarters gave graphic details of the amazing weather vagaries with which the Allied bomber crews have to contend to maintain their attacks on the key base of Rabaul. Our planes have had to fly through snow storms at a high altitude, and heavy ice has formed on their wings. Terrific thunderstorms and heavy cumulus cloud have also been experienced. EPIC AIR BATTLE. The air war throughout the area of the South-west Pacific Command gives no sign of slackening, and the Japanese air force has become increasingly active. Eight Zeros were shot down and four others were damaged in the air battles on Friday and yesterday. Rabaul was only one of a dozen targets which were attacked by our bombers. Six raids were made by Japanese aircraft —the greatest number for some months. The growing enemy air base at Wewak, in the north of New Guinea, was the starting point for an epic air battle. A single Allied heavy bomber was attacked by 18 Zeros, and in a •running fight which lasted an hour and a half three Zeros were shot down and two others were probably destroyed. Our plane got safely back. The targets attacked by the Japanese aircraft include Darwin, Merauke, Milne Bay, and Port Moresby. Eight aircraft made a night raid on Milne Bay, causing slight casualties and, damage. A heavier force than usual also raided Port Moresby.. The other enemy attacks were ineffectual. North of Australia our bonders have