WAR IN PACIFIC

Evening Star, Issue 25171, 10 May 1944, Page 3

WAR IN PACIFIC

THE ADVANCE ON RABAUL CAPTURE OF CAPE HOSKINS AIRFIELD (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent.) "SYDNEY, May 9. American troops who occupied the airfield at Cape Hoskins, on the northern coast of New Britain, encountered no Japanese, but suffered a few casualties from booby traps. Cape Hoskins was once an important enemy air-stagings base; but was put out of action by relentless Allied bombings when the invasion moves were made at Arawe and Cape Gloucester this year. Cape Hoskins airfield is within 150 miles of llabaul, where recent reconnaissance photographs reveal widespread damage. An official estimate lists Rabaul township and the adjoining installations as 80 to 85 per cent, destroyed; Lakunai airfield and intallationL 85 per cent, destroyed; Tobera, RQ per cent; Vunakanua and Rapopo, iiO per cent. In spite of the concentrated bombings the Japanese for many weeks have continued to repair the damaged runways and rebuild installations, but lately their persistence has weakened and the repair of strips has slipped into an irregular routine. Considerably more than 10,000 tons of bombs have been dropped on the 10 miles square defence area at Rabaul during the past seven months. In this locality are 40,000 beleaguered troops, the remnants of Japan's 17th army. The sustained air offensive against Rabaul began on December 17. Before this, the greatest blow against enemy strength there was on October 12 last, when 177 planes and 119 ships, including destroyers, were destroyed at the base within 24 'hours. By February 18 Allied warships had been able to shell Rabaul without fear of enemy air interference. The last enemy fighter opposition encountered over the base was three months ago.

U.S. BOMBING RAIDS

GUAM AND TRUK ATTACKED AGAIN WASHINGTON, May 8. Army and navy Liberators attacked Guam Island in daylight on Saturday, Says a Pacific Fleet Approximately 25 enemy fighters intercepted, seven of which were shot down, three probably destroyed, and two damaged. All our planes returned. Army Liberators bombed Truk atoll on Saturday night, starting several fires. Ponape Island was bombed in daylight on Saturday by army Mitchells, and at night by army Liberators. Airfields and defence installations were hit. Other aircraft dropped 33 tons of bombs on remaining enemy positions_ in the Marshalls on Saturday, hitting coastal batteries, fuel storage facilities, and magazines.

INCREASING AIR OPPOSITION

JAPANESE IN DUTCH NEW GUINEA (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, May 9. The increasing Japanese opposition to Allied air blows west of Hollandia, in Dutch New Guinea, has necessitated the provision of fighter escorts for the Liberators striking at the enemy bases in the Schouten slands, in Geelvink Bay. The Allied fighters are believed to come from the recently-cap-tured airfields at Hollandia. Of 12 Zeros which' attempted interception on Sunday, nine were shot down without loss to our planes. 1 liberators over the same area on Saturday encountered 17 enemy fighters, shooting down one. The heaviest air attacks reported by General MacArthur's communique today were on the Wakde-Sarmi area, about 100 miles west of Hollandia, which was hit by more than 100 Allied planes on Sunday. Mitchells and Liberators dropped 295 tons of explojiiv&s. Airfields and bivouac and supply areas were heavily damaged, and smoke

from large fires covered the target. American casualties since the landing at Hollandia have been 28 killed in action or died of wounds, and 95 wounded. About 800 enemy dead have now been counted in the area, while more than 150 Japanese have been taken prisoner. Allied planes continue to blast the Japanese trapped in the Wewak-Hansa Bay sector of British New Guinea, and patrol torpedo boats are adding to the enemy's troubles with damaging blows. At Wewak on Friday night they destroyed five barges and strafed trucks on the coastal road. Solomons-based Liberators bombed Woleai, in the Carolines, on Saturday morning, destroying two grounded aircraft. Liberators on Friday located an enemy convoy of five small vessels 175 miles west of Truk, and sank three. The ships wero. of from 100 to 500 tons.

BIG AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

TWO NEW AMERICAN SHIPS WASHINGTON. May 9. The United States Navy's first two 45.000-ton aircraft carriers are expected to be in notion against Japan next vear. With their long flight decks.' the new carriers will he able to operate with multi-engined bombers. Twin-engined bombers can fly off the existing carriers, but cannot alight because there is insufficient length of deck. • The first 45.000-tonner should he launched bv the end of the year, and the second'early in 1945. The fitting and commissioning are not likely to require more than six months from the date of launching.