BOUGAINVILLE AIRFIELD

Evening Star, Issue 25046, 13 December 1943, Page 4

BOUGAINVILLE AIRFIELD

NOW IN USE BY ALLIES ISLAND PBACTICAUFUSELESS TO EHEMY (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) ,".-... SYDNEY, December 12. American light bombers and fighters are now" using Torokin airfield, on the north-western side of the United States beachhead at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville. Island, in the Northern Solomons. The use of the new field enables the Allied bombers to receive fighter protection on their raids against the Japanese positions to , the north. This is reported by war correspondents in the South Pacific area. In the six ■weeks': lighting since the- .American landing at Empress Augusta Bay the Japanese have lost a minimum of 2.000 kilted. The American casualties have been about 1,300, with fewer than 300 killed. .

The Japanese airfields in Bougainville Island have been kept inoperative by a constant hail of bombs and shells.

The' Japanese naval forces face a tremendous problem in supplying their garrisons on the island' with food and war materials. Allied light naval craft constantly patrol the enemy's lines 'of escape, while our aircraft hammer his installations. War commentators suggest that Bougainville has now ceased to be a threat to Allied* plans, in the Pacific.

During the past three days adverse weather has severely ' restricted air operations in the- Solomons area, but an 8,000-ton Japanese freighter/ which was attacked by a night recpnnaissaince ; "bomber near Dyaul Island'.' Northern New Ireland, was siink ;with* ; tKrec direct hits '] - ,'. : ''"' J