CONVOY’S DESTRUCTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 March 1943, Page 5

CONVOY’S DESTRUCTION

LAST DESTROYERS SUNK MORE JAP. AERIAL LOSSES (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, March 5. The sinking of two crippled destroyers at dawn on Thursday completed the annihilation of the Japanese convoy endeavouring to force a landing at Lae, in New Guinea. Four Zeros, attempting to drive oft attacking Allied bombers, were also destroyed. Three transports which were burning at dusk on Wednesday had gone down overnight. The destruction of the last Japanese warship was not the final chapter in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. A great air battle developed over Lae on Thursday, when 23 Japanese fighters were destroyed or severely damaged, bringing enemy aeroplane losses during the last three days to more than 1,0. , . x . Allied aircraft have also maintained patrols over the Bismarck Sea and Huon Gulf, where some power barges and lifeboats filled with survivors were discovered endeavouring to reach the shore of New Guinea, near Finschhafen. The boats were strafed and destroyed with all aboard. While it is just possible that a few troops from the wrecked ships have reached New Guinea in small craft, such reinforcements would prove a liability and not an asset to the Japanese garrisons already in the area. Their numbers must inevitably be small — thousands of tons of stores and equipment which were carried by the big convoy leaving Rabaul on Monday were perhaps even more important to the Japanese in New Guinea than the 15,000 troop reinforcements. There is, however, no definite report of any surviyors having got ashore. “Everything that came into the area has been eliminated,” declared a General Headquarters spokesman to-day. Miles of floating debris, smashed boats, and bodies, with great patches of oil, are the only signs ol the enemy’s proud convoy of 22 ships. Allied airmen sweeping low over the water saw monster sharks cruising among the wreckage. Allied aircraft kept up their attacks against enemy personnel so long as any sizeable force remained. The enemy defeat was to the last man, as well as to the last ship. One of the grimmest messages from the attacking aeroplanes was received early on Thursday morning. It said: “In'this area. 100 miles east-south-east of Salamaua, there were about 500 men with battle equipment in the water. There were only 200 when the aircraft left. Sharks were seen round the life-rafts and boats. Some of the heaviest attacks ever made on Lae aerodrome marked the end of the convoy battle. Havoc attack bombers poured 30,000 rounds of machine-gun fire into grounded aircraft and installations. Six fighters caught refuelling were destroyed, together with their fuel truck. Meanwhile, protecting Lockheed Lightning and Kittyhawk fighters engaged 30 Japanese fighters, which made desperate efforts to break up the attack. Eight enemy aeroplanes were destroyed for certain, and nine others were probably destroyed. Throughout Australia attention is again focused on air power as the key to victory in the Pacific. It is recalled that at the conclusion of the Papuan campaign General MacArthur in his communique of January 24 said: “The outstanding military lesson of this campaign was the continuous, calculated application of air power.” The Allied air forces show no signs of relaxing after .their great convoy victory Other New Guinea objectives attacked on Thursday were the aerodrome at Finschhafen and enemy-occupied villages at the mouth of the Waria River, as well as the aerodrome at Übili, in New Britain. North of Australia medium bombers started destructive fires among large oil supplies on Matkus Island and at Saumlaki, in the Tenimber group.

PHOTOGRAPHS PUBLISHED

(N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent)

(Rec. 11.35) SYDNEY, March 6. Within 36-hours of the sinking oi the last remnants, of the Japanese convoy, the first pictures of the battle of the Bismarck Sea are published in Australian newspapers this morning. The pictures were flown from New Guinea, while the battle was still in progress. They show several large enemy merchantmen listing heavily or burning fiercely after the bombing and strafing attacks, while personnel can be seen d’ving overboard from one badiy hit vessel. Photographs show that ships derricks and landing gear had already been assembled in readiness for disembarkation. Experts are making close examination of other air photographs to sec- whether the large sized warships accompanying the convoy were cruisers or heavy destroyers.. The strength of the convoy was originally given as including three cruisers, but later reports mentioned only large destroyers. Some of Japans large destroyers are so designed as to appear like light cruisers. Expressing the belief that the Pacific war is at a stage when momentous strategical decisions will have to be made, the “Sydney Herald’s’ military correspondent to-day says: The Battle of the Bismarck Sea throws into bold relief the part the air power must play in the war against Japan. He links the recent arguments by Generals MacArthur and Chennault, advocating heavier use of the Allied air. strength, as foreshadowing co-ordinated blows against the Japanese from Pacific and Chinese bases. The same writer warns that some comment on the battle errs on the side of unrestrained optimism, but adds that the results of the conflict were kept in proportion in the statement in MacArthur’s communique that “the Japanese campaign for the time being at least is completely dislocated.” Australian observers in the United states point out that victory will confirm and strengthen the official global strategy to prosecute the war in the Pacific on a defensive-offensive or holding basis, and to concentrate major attention on the European theatre. This is regarded as inevitable since the Bismarck Sea action seems largely to clinch the Allies’ ability in the Pacific to prevent the® Japanese from expanding. American military analysts believe that enemy mistakes contributed in no small part to their crushing defeat, and consider that either ignorance or desperation on the part of Japanese commanders caused the abandonment of the first principles. More than any other battle, that of the Bismarck Sea is reported to have captured American imagination and to have convinced the United States of the supremacy of the Allied forces over those of Japan. But sober commentators stress that this was a defensive victory,” and that defence cannot win the war against Japan. The destruction of 22 vessels brings the unofficial total of Japanese ships sunk since Pearl Harbour to 510. MR. CHURCHILL’S MESSAGE. CANBERRA. March 5. “It is my earnest wish that the Spitfire squadrons which are manned by airmen from Australia and Britain, will long continue to give powerful aid in your magnificent fight against the Japs.” This was stated

by Mr. Churchill in a cablegram to-day to Mr. Curtin, following the announcement that Spitfires had shot down six Zeros over Darwin. “I feel I must let you know at once how deeply I am- touched by the terms of your announcement about the Spitfire squadrons,” added Mr. Churchill. “It is a great satisfaction to me to learn of the ascendancy they immediately established over the enemy.”

AMERICAN BOMBINGS

RUGBY, March 5

An American Navy communique states: Early on the morning ot March 2 War Hawks-attacked Japanese positions at Kiska. Hits were observed in the. camp area. On Wednesday night two Japanese planes bombed American positions at Guadalcanal. There were no casualties or damage to installations. Yesterday morning Dauntless divebombers, with Wildcat escort, bombed enemy positions at Munda, starting four fires. Anti-aircraft fire was encountered. All the American planes are safe. The same morning Liberator heavy bombers attacked Japanese installations at Buin and Kahiki, also Balale Island, and the Shortland Island area, Anti-aircraft fire was encountered. The bombing results were not observed. All the American planes are safe.