JAP. CONVOY BOMBED

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 March 1943, Page 5

JAP . CONVOY BOMBED

HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED

SHIPS AND ZEROS DESTROYED

ATTACK CONTINUING

(N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent). SYDNEY, March 3. I The Japanese convoy attempting to reach Lae, in New Guinea, has been shattered and dispersed by Allied heavy bombers, which are maintaining incessant attacks. Two enemy transports totalling 18,000 tons have been sunk and at least two other shins a 6000-ton transport and a 5000-ton cargo ship, have beep severely damaged. Thirteen of the pio tecting Japanese fighters have been put OUt Of action. ;„fU,.fnrl in All this damage was inflicted in the Bismarck Sea area north of New Britain before noon on Tuesday, and reports of our later attacks have not yet been released. The Japanese have had a force of 30 to 40 fighters protecting the convoy,, and the sea ana air battle is continuing. Observers believe that the convoy has suffered greater damage than has so far been announced. It is officially revealed to-day that the convoy oi 14 ships—the largest yet to attempt to reach L ae —comprised three cruisers, four destroyers, and seven transports or Ca ]?lying iP Fortressss and Liberators loaded with 5001 b and 10001 b bombs dived low over the convoy m the initial attacks, which were made in adverse weather, with rain, haze, ana thick cloud. The escorting Allied fighters engaged in a series of dogfights with the convoys air umbrella, in which they destroyed five Zeros, eight more being listed as probably destroyed. They were last seen falling towards the sea with smoke trailing from them. Simultaneously, Allied air formations pounded the enemy aerodrome at Las to minimise the chances of the Japanese sending! out additional fighter cover from this' base In" the first attacks on the vessels , /•« ... -If —Life

bv Flying Fortresses, five direct hits were scored on a 10,000-ton trans-1 port, which was later reported to be awash and sinking. A direct hit on a 5000-ton cargo ship caused a fire in its forward hatch. I hen a 10001 b bomb, striking an 8000-ton transport amidships, split the vessel in two so that she sank within two minutes. This wave of Fortresses was intercepted by seven Japanese fignteis, three of which were probably destroyed. . , When a second wave ot Fortresses

went over the now scattered convoy visibility was poor, but a. near miss was scored against a light cruisei. Twelve Zeros attempted without success to break up the attack. Observers with this Hight reported that destroyers had gathered round the damaged 5000-ton ship, indicating rescue or salvage operations. Liberators and Fortresses comprised the third attacking wave, of the operations ot which scant details are .available. A spokesman at Generail MacArthur's headquarters said: “rhe pressure of the Allied air attacks is so heavy that intelligence officers have not had time fully to interrogate bomber crows, and details of the crushing damage inflicted upon the convoy are therefore by no means complete." , . . The latest reports released indicate that on Tuesday night the remnants of the convoy had turned south in the Vitia Strait, evidently making for the main Japanese New Guinea base at; Lae. No official estimate has been made of the number of enemy troop reinforcements carried by the convoy, but a Sydney “Sun” estimate places the figure at between 7000 and 10.000.

RAID ON DARWIN The Japanese Air Force, after a lapse of several months, has resumed its costly day raiding operations against Darwin. Twelve Zeros and three unidentified fighters which attacked an aerodrome in this area at noon on Tuesday were intercepted by Allied fighters, which shot down six oi' the enemy aeroplanes. This was the first occasion when the Japanese have employed only fighter aircraft in a raid on Darwin. A spokesman at General MacArthur’s headquarters revealed to-day that during recent weeks Japanese reconnaissance aeroplanes have been over Cape York Peninsula and Arnhem Land.

Apart from the attacks on the Japanese convoy, little important air activity has been reported in the South-west Pacific area during the last 24 hours. However, a mediumsized enemy ammunition ship was destroyed in Wide Bay, New Britain, when it received a direct hit with a 5001 b bomb. The ship exploded and sank.

North of Australia, Liberators have attacked aerodromes at Waingapoe. on Sumba Island, and Bima, on Sunbawa Island, in the area west of Timor.

ALL SUNK!

A radio message at 3.15 p.m. stated that all the remainder of the Japanese convoy had been sunk. PRESS ESTIMATES. i (Recd 10 a.m.) i SYDNEY, March 3. I “Japan appears to have blundered in thinking that control of the sea north of New Guinea enables her to convoy men and materials across the well watched waterway from New Britain, without adequate air cover, in the I'ace of our land-based aircraft.” This comment was made today by the Sydney “Herald” war correspondent, reviewing the continuing sea and air battle raging around the shattered remnants of the bis Japanese convoy endeavouring to reach Lae. No additional news of the battle is yet available, though it is expected the results of the last nine hours’ daylight bombing on Tuesday. and attacks throughout Wednesday will disclose additional damage to the convoy. Pointing out that the hazards oi sea movements in New Guinea waters were demonstrated to the Japanese several times during their attempts to reinforce the Buna beachhead, as well as in sharper form over the Lae convoy early in January, the “Herald” writer says: The present ef-

tort indicates me enemy is piepcucu to accept .losses to push some part of his convoys through. The present enemy movement on Lae, together with their recent preparations throughout the Southern Pacific, is believed by the “Christian Science Monitor” war correspondent in this theatre (W. Lucas) to have mainly a defensive significance. Appraisins the chances of a Japanese attack on Australia, Mr. Lucas savs: The course of the war in the South-west Pacific during the past six months indicates that any successful enemy offensive would have to be on a greater scale than then’ present resources in this part of the Pacific, which are estimated between seven and eight divisions, would allow. Even if the Japanese could concentrate a really large air armada in support of an amphibious attack against Australia, it would be difficult to maintain such attack over a period of days without more con-

| veniently placed fighter bases. The South-west Pacific war in the past six months has forced a defensive role on the Japanese, unless they have some unexpected surprise in ■ store. The Allies discarded the is- ■ land to island road towards Tokio, ; because of the incredible difficulties, but island to island warfare is not easier for the Japanese. Therefore their recent feverish activity is probably aimed at blocking more securely the approaches towards •Rabaul, New Britain, which have been partly I opened by Allied victories at Guadalcanal and Buna. ■ JAPANESE STRATEGY RONDON, March 2. I “The facts of General MacArthur s recent communiques admit no doubt that the Japanese are strongly reini forcing the great arc of island positions fronting and flanking northern 1 Australia,” declares , “The Times in a leading article. It adds that, though the Japanese were expected to adopt a defensive strategy after their Papuan and Guadalcanal failures, it is I possible that this is not their inten- | tlo ‘Tt is certainly strange that after I June the great Japanese effort should ’come to a standstill which even their naval losses in the Coial Sea, Midway Island, and Solomons battles I cannot entirely explain,” comments I “The Times.” “It is possible that a Ij-.ew offensive is being laboriously (mounted with the same care as preceded the series of onslaughts that carried the Japanese to the borders of India and the outer defences of the Australian continent. Yet Tokio way after all have resolved to lolilow a defensive strategy. The resistance of the Japanese garrison in Papua and on Guadalcanal may have encouraged them to count on wearying the Allies by stubborn defence m an .island to island war., , , I “Mr. Roosevelt has pointed out that I Japanese communications must be I‘cut near the top’ and that China I must become a base of operations lor this purpose. There may be no immeI diate prospect of a large-scale offensive against the Japanese through Burma, but the complexities of the war in other theatres should not obscure the importance of the Chinese lifeline. It must be repaired if Japan is to be decisively beaten.” BOMBING - JAPAN NEW YORK, March 2. Heavy and continuous bombing raids on Japan, ensuring the destruction of the enemy on his own soil, 'were the goal of the United States Air i Forces, said Lieutenant-General H. IH. Arnold, commander of the United States Army Air Forces, in a speech. I “We must be ready for wide-scale I bombing of Japanese aeroplane factories, railways, shipyards, munition ‘dumps and docks, bombing day alter 'day and night after night, bombing (with utter havoc, ensuring the total I destruction of the enemy on his own soil,” he said. “That is our goal.

RETENTION OF BASES WASHINGTON, March 2. Senator Tydings told the Associated Press that the permanent transfer to America of the Western Hemisphere bases leased from Britain would be proposed when the Senate took up the legislation to continue lend-lease. Senator Tydings added that he was attempting to draft an amendment I paving the way for immediate negotiations with Britain with a view to obtaining a permanent title to the bases.

LEND-LEASE

WASHINGTON, March 3

Mr Stettinus, Lease Lend Administrator, has announced that eight industrial plants, valued at 12,000,000 dollars, are being shipped abroad. Three are going to Australia, two ol which are to make tins for food. Three go to Russia, including a Ford type factory, and two go to India. Commenting on this announcement, the New York “Daily News” in an editorial says: “We are sorry to see this. It means that the plants will be converted to peace-time production, after the war, lor the benefit of Australia, Russia, and India thereby helping to accentuate the post-war American business slump

CANBERRA, March 3. By the end of June, Australia will have spent £61,000,000 in reciprocal lend-lease, said the Treasurer, Mr Chifley, in the House of Representatives to-day. In addition to supplying the United States forces in Australia, the Commonwealth has given substantial aid to the American forces in New Caledonia, and in the Solomons. The expenditure has included a wide range of air, army and navy requirements.

FOOD SUPPLIES. (Recd. 12.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, March 4. Australia had accepted the responsibility of feeding the whole of the United States forces in the Southwest Pacific area and to the extent that New Zealand was unable to supply in the South Pacific area, declared the Commonwealth Minister for Supply (Mr. Beasley), answering the demands by Sir Earle Page ter a single food authority in Australia. There had never been a complaint from the Allied fighting forces in Australia of shortage of food through breakdown in supply, said the Minister. Nor had Australia refused a single request from Britain, India or the Middle East ter food supplies for the fighting services. “To-day I authorised the production of dry provisions for our American Allies covering a 12 months’ programme to the value of £ 16,000,000,” added Mr. Beasley. “These needs we can. meet in addition to those of our own fighting forces, the essential needs of the civilian population, and our commitments to Britain and other war theatres.”