ALLIED INVASION FLEET

Evening Star, Issue 25522, 28 June 1945, Page 5

ALLIED INVASION FLEET

OPERATING OFF BALIKPAPAN PERSISTENT TOKIO REPORT WASHINGTON, June 26. Japanese broadcasts insisted to-day that an Allied invasion fleet of possibly 80 ships was threatening Balikpapan, and had landed supplies there while other forces invaded Ternate Island. Tokio radio said two supply ships had landed cargo on Balikpapan on June 23, but there were no troop landings. Tbe radio did not attempt to explain how supplies could be landed without invasion. This is the twelfth day that Tokio has reported Allied operations off Balikpapan. There is still no Allied confirmation. One broadcast reported that the Allies had launched a fierce attack reinforced by a cruiser, four destroyers, and six minesweepers, when the supplies were landed. DARING AIR STRIKES R.A.F. LIBERATORS BOMB BRIDGES (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service.) CALCUTTA,. June 25. Flying thousands of miles through stormy monsoon weather, the R.A.F. continues to press home attacks against Japanese communications. Daring low-level attacks by Liberators yesterday further tightened the stranglehold on' communications between Siam and Burma by destroying two important bridges crossing the Mekong River at Kauchana and Bure, 80 miles west of Bangkok. To the Japanese in their present plight the loss of such crossings over the Mekong, now swollen and turbulent with monsoon rains, presents a tactical -headache, as all supplies for

the remnants of their army in Burma, both from Singapore and Bangkok, must cross the Mekong, and the only crossings-were at Kauchana and Bure. The first aircraft'to-attack was piloted by Flying-officer John Haycock (Nelson). In addition to the successful attacks on bridges, Liberators strafed locomotives and rolling stock on the Burma-, Riam railway. GENERAL BLAMEY ENDANGERED' INCIDENT ON BORNEO (Rec. 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 27. An enemy attempt on the life of the Australian Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Thomas Blarney, and senior officers of the A.I.F. Ninth Division was frustrated near divisional headquarterg on Borneo on Sunday night. Two Japanese armed with swords, pistols, and grenades were killed in the jungle only 20ft from the headquarters. Firing broke out along a nearby beach while General Blarney was conferring with the Ninth Division's commander, Major-general Wootten, and other senior officers. A small enemy party, attempting to infiltrate the headquarters area, wsk sighted by members of the divisional guard battalion. An intensive hunt through tho jungle area fringing the general officer, cqnimanding's tent resulted in the killing of the Japanese.