JAP. AIR FORCE

Evening Star, Issue 25225, 12 July 1944, Page 6

JAP. AIR FORCE

[ AGTIVE OVER DUTCH NEW GUINEA FEAR OF PHILIPPINES ATTACK INDICATED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, July 11. Japanese fears that General MacArthur's rapid advance in Dutch New Guinea is the opening phase of an Allied drive against the Philippines are •indicated 'by recent enemy bom'bing counter-attacks on newly-won American positions. The latest such raid reported in to-day's South-west Pacific communique was made against Noemfoor Island, Geelvink Bay'. ..The;Americans landed on Noemfoor. on July 2, and, after oceupyhi'g the island's three airfields, are ;npw.,engaged in mopping up enemy remnants. Six Japanese planes made the attack, but caused little damage. War correspondents who accompanied the American ' invasion force > say that the Japanese soldier's preference for suicide rather than capture has never been demonstrated more openly than on Noemfoor. The enemy remnants, split into isolated groups, are unable to offer any organised resistance. The full Japanese death roll on the island is not known, but the biggest slaughter occurred three days after the landing, when 300 to 400 of the enemy garrison made a savage counterattack. At least 200 of them were mown down by machine-gun fire. 'This was the onb determined bid made to stop the Americans, who completed the occupation of Noemfoor's strategic . airfields without much further' opposition. At some points elaborate defence systems, including pillboxes and banbed-wire entanglements, were left unmanned, while new equipment abandoned included caterpillar 'tractors,' trucks, and troop carriers.

In the meantime Allied planes, some of which are operating from Kamiri airfield, on Noemfoor, are extending their aerial domination of the entire Dutch New Guinea area. Targets reported in to-day's communique include Sorong, Babo, Sagan, and Moemi. Atßaibo intensive antiaircraft 'fire brought down three Allied machines. ...'., In fighting in the Maffin-Sarmi sector of Dutch New Guinea the Americans have killed an additional 292 Japanese, bringing the enemy's known losses to 3,067, including 42 prisoners. Japanese resistance here.has.been stubborn, but" after capturing Maffin airstrip the; Americans a're now fighting for Sawar 'field. , _ . ; In the Central Pacific General MacArthur's heavy bomh'ers are keeping up the"; pressure on : enemy-held' Caroline; bases.-; 'Yap, Palauj and Woleai,were attacked'"hy. Iterators on Sunday. Since'they first raided Yap on June 13 South-west;;' Pacific Liberators have dropped 400. ton sof ibomibs on this key enemy/_strongpoint in 15 visits. In all the raids attacking 'bombers have encountered .fighter .exposition, sometimes meeting as many' as 30 Zeros. So far 37 Japanese fighters liave been shot out of action' and about 30 more enemy planes destroyed on the ground'. The Liberator losses have been negligible. .Japanese prisoners taken on Noemfoor" Island.'thought Australia was in Jaoanese hands. They informed their captors that, although the Japanese campaign in New Guinea had failed, Australia itself would never be wrested from the Japanese. A young Japanese airman taken prisoner from an enemy barge, by an Allied naval patrol was only 15 years of age. He claimed to have had many hours of com'bat flying.