WARPLANES STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 3, 3 July 1943, Page 5

WARPLANES STRIKE

ENEMY BASES POUNDED

(Special P.A. Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, July 2. General Mac Arthur's latest communique indicates that the southern Pacific air forces are heavily engaged in a battle in the New Guinea zone and are subjcctUig the enemy bases, particularly Jtabaul, to a terrific poundin ff. These attacks are mainly designed to prevent Japanese air interference with the Allied operations. The situation on the Trobriands and "Woodlark Island is reported to be quiet. It is announced at General Mac? Arthur's Headquarters that contact between the American forces at Nassau Bay and the Japanese was being maintained. The Americans have entountered some machine* gun fire as well as booby-traps. The Japanese in the Salamaua-Mubo area are now hemmed in on two sides by the Allied | forces. The terrain. in this area is mountainous and difficult. In support of the Allied ground forces Boston attack bombers have bombed and strafed enemy positions at Dual* at the northern end of Nassau Bay, commanding the coastal track to Mubo. One of the heaviest blows of the Allied air operations supporting the general offensive was aimed against air installations at the enemy's key base of Rabaul. Early yesterday morn- 3 ing Liberators, attacking in waves, struck at the Japanese airfields, dropping 22 tons of bombs on Lakupai, Vunakanau, and Rapopo. Medium bombers attacked in the Salamaua area, while low-flying Bostons raided the nearby base of Lac, where they concentrated on the aerodrome.