JAPAN'S OIL CENTRE

Evening Star, Issue 25300, 7 October 1944, Page 7

JAPAN'S OIL CENTRE

SECOND MASS AIR ATTACK BATTLE WITH ENEMY FIGHTERS (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent.)'SYDNEY, October 6. , Allied heavy bombers operating ati long-range on Wednesday made a destructive mass attack on Balikpapan, Japan's main oil fuel storage centre m the Pacific. The bombers fought a battle lasting an hour with 40 Japanese fighters, destroying 19 of them. Seven bombers were lost. Thiß was th» second mass bombing attack on Balikpapan, which is described by General MacArthur as ; the most lucrative, strategic target in the Pacific. _ The first big raid was made on Saturday by 60 Liberators, which were opposed by 30 enemy fighters, of which 20 were destroyed or damaged. This intense fighter opposition at a time when other enemy bases are being left undefended indicates the high importance which the Japanese .attach, to Balikpapan, their most, important, source of high octane aviation fuel. About 20 per cent, of the enemy'B total supply comes from this centre. In the latest raid Balikpapan was hit with 40 tons of bombs,, great destruction being caused at Pandansari and Edeleanu refineries among storage tanks, and in personnel areas.'- Huge fires and explosions resulted, with smoke rising 8,000 feet. General MacArthur's bombers hava also kept up their relentless attacks on Japanese shipping between New Guinea and the Philippines. They destroyed a 2,000-ton freighter, left a 1,000-ton freighter in flames, and severely damaged another vessel.