FIGHTING IN PACIFIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 May 1943, Page 5

FIGHTING IN PACIFIC

U.S.A. LANDING AT ATTU

“GOING VERY SATISFACTORILY”

JAP. RAIDS ON NEW GUINEA

WASHINGTON, May 16. United States troops have secured a bridgehead on the Japanese-held island of Attu,. in the western Aleutians, where strong forces landed early on Tuesday. Violent fighting continues, while the United States Navy adheres to its stated intention to announce no details until the situation is clarified.

The Berlin radio says the American invasion forces landed under the cover of dense fog after warships and bombers had pounded the island. The Americans, claims the radio, are rushing reinforcements and supplies to Attu, while their naval task forces have blockaded the island to prevent assistance reaching the Japanese.

“The drive to force the Japanese out of Attu, in the Aleutians, is going very satisfactorily,’’ said the Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Knox) at a Press conference. He explained that the operation was a joint Army and Navy affair. Marines were’ not taking part. He declined to predict the length of the campaign, but he emphasised that the move was of great strategic importance. , 2 The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times’’ suggests that a landing on Japan’s main Aleutians base of Kiska may be attempted soon, and says that strong blows against Japan in the south-west and other Pacific areas can be expected, according to a co-ordinated strategic plan. However, heavy casualties are expected before the Japanese are driven from Attu. Invasion boats, thrusting against the island would have to traverse treacherous reefs with strong currents. To gain a beachhead soldiers would have to cross swamps. Although fewer than 10,000 Japanese troops are reported to be based on Attu. they are entrenched behind strongly fortified positions, aided by rock formations. Attu would give the Americans a weather station which would be extremely important in the Aleutians. It is assumed in Washington that the United States commanders have thrown in sufficient forces to overcome the Japanese. Axis reports say that the Japanese are greatly outnumbered, but that furious hand-to-hand battles are in progress on the island’s bleak mountain sides. Naval experts say an attack against the Japanese Kurile Islands, north of Japan proper, is almost certain to follow the successful occupation of Attu. The important Japanese naval base of Paramushiro, at the northern tip of the Kurile Islands, is 600 miles west of Attu and within easy bomber range. However, Colonel Knox has warned that the occupation of Attu will be “tougher than Guadalcanal.’’

POWERFUL FORCE

The Washington correspondent of the Associated Press states that there are indications that the United States has been building up a powerful striking force in the Aleutians, while the strength of American attacks against Japanese bases in this area has been mounting steadily. A determined American campaign is believed now to be under way to drive the Japanese right out of the Aleutians. This would be preparatory to a possible thrust across island stooping stones against Japan itself. The occupation of Amchitka Island, 265 miles east of Attu. was announced last week. Attu is a Japanese supply and reinforcement base for Kiska. 196 miles to the cast. It is the enemy’s only pelrol supply base on the 2000-miie Tokio-Kiska air route. The Japanese have been constructing a large base on Attu. apparently for launching attacks against the American mainland. The defences include strong anti-aircraft batteries and big coastal defence guns built into the cliffs. Authoritative feeling in the United States has always been that along all sections of the Pacific front the Aleutians and the Southwest Pacific area afford the best opportunities for heavy blows against the Japanese.

SOLOMONS AREA.

RUGBY, May 16,

A United States Navy communique states: “During Thursday night Fortresses attacked installations at Kahili and on Ballale Island. Large fires were started. On the same night Avengers attacked Japanese shipping in the Buin area and scored two hits on a cargo vessel which was observed to explode. During the night, four Japanese bombers dropped bombs on Guadalcanal causing slight damage to United States installations. United States lighter planes attacked the bombers and shot down one and damaged two others. During Friday night Japanese shipping was again attacked by Avengers while Liberators attacked Japanese installations at Kahili and Ballale Island.

NEW GUINEA AREA

JAPS’ COSTLY RAID

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

SYDNEY, May 16. In another furious air battle over Oro Bay in Northern New Guinea on Friday 16 of 45 Japanese raiders were shot down and six more probably destroyed. The Japanese were hurled back before they had caused more than slight damage. This latest performa nee by American-manned fighters ranked with their feat 01. April 11 in the same area when ol 4o enemy aeroplanes they accounted lor 17 definitely destroyed and six more probably destroyed. From the latest air combat every one of our pilots emerged unscathed while Allied aeroplane losses are reported as “minor.” „ ~ This New Guinea success follows close on the heavy Japanese air de-, feat in all-fighter combat over the Russell Islands, 30 miles north pl, Guadalcanal in the Solomons. Amen- i can fighters there shot down 17 and probably destroyed two more ol a force of 25 Zeros. The Americans lost five aeroplanes, but two pilots were rescued. General MacArthur’s communique reporting the Oro Bay raid says: “Twenty enemy bombers escorted by 25 fighters raiding the area were successfuly intercepted and driven off by our fighters before causing more than slight damage and casualties. In air combat we shot down nine enemy Zeros and seven bombers. Another fighter and five bombers were probably destroyed. Our air losses were minor.” Oro Bay is an important Allied base on the north-east coast of Papua just below Buna. Shipping was the probable objective of the raid, which was made by Mitsubishi medium twin-engined naval bombers escorted by Zeros. Lockheed Lightning and Kittyhawk fighters numbering about the same as the Japanese total intercepted the raiders at 20,000 ft, scoring a smashing victory. The Japanese followed their daylight Oro Bay assault with an ineffectual night attack by three bombers on the Buna area.

To these offensive air activities by the Japanese Allied bombers have replied with crippling blows against the enemy aerodromes used as bases for assaults on our New Guinea positions. . „ ~ ! The airfield at Gasmata m southern New Britain has been rendered temporarily unserviceable as a result of an attack by Beaulighters and Mitchell medium bombers and Flying Fortresses. Situated on one of a group of small islands offshore, this aerodrome is used as a hallway house by bombers from Rabaul and Kavieng bent on raiding our bases in New Guinea. The aerodrome has been bombed and strafed nine times m seven days. It is only about 61t above sea level and the wet season in this rainfall belt of 200 in. is just beginning. Incessant bombing and strafing will greatly assist the weather m making it one of the least comfortable Japanese South-west Pacific air bases. Enemy aerodromes at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, Wewak and Boram in Northern New Guinea, have also been under attack by Flying Fortresses and Liberators. Fires on the Wewak and nearby Boram aerodromes are believed to have indicated burning aircraft.

MORE JAP. ATTACKS

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

SYDNEY, May 16

The Japanese Air Force has transferred its attentions in New Guinea to the Wau-Mubo area, where intenisified land fighting is in progress. -Fighting began at the end of January When the Japanese were driven back s with heavy casualties after their disastrous attempt to capture the Wau aerodrome.

General MacArthur’s communique to-day reports two attacks on this ■urea on Saturday made by a total of 98 enemy aircraft. The number of aeroplanes employed indicates that in spite of their continued heavy combat losses the Japanese are maintaining their air strength in the areas north of Australia. Referring to the attack on Wau the communique says: “Twenty enemy bombers escorted by 14 fighters bombed the area in the morning. Our forces sustained neither damage nor casualties.”

Still stronger enemy air formations raided Allied positions round Bobjdubi, the small village recently ocI cupied by the Australian forces. I Sharp ground clashes have been developing in this area for several days. However, Saturday was the first occasion when enemy aircraft have supported their troops in this area, i Allied aeroplanes have harried the ground forces incessantly. The communique reports: “The enemy launched a heavy air attack shortly after dawn with nine bombers and 15 fighters, followed by 40 dive-bombers.” . , No mention is made of Allied fignter interception in either of these attacks, nor is there reference to any damage or casualties caused by the Bobdubi raid. However, the Japanese aircraft which clashed with Allied aeroplanes over other South-west Pacific sectors on Saturday took heavy punishment. Seven were shot down and three others probably destroyed. Japanese intercepting fighters were active while enemy bombers made other small nuisance raids.

ALLIES’ TARGETS

Allied bombers made heavy attacks principally against Rabaul, in New Britain, and Nabire, an enemy base 'on the north coast of Geelvink Bay on the “neck” of Dutch New Guinea. Explosions and fires among dispersal bays and adjacent installations were caused on the Vunakanau aerodrome at Rabaul, while large fires were also started at Nabire. One of three intercepting Japanese fighters was shot down.

An Allied heavy bomber reconnoitring over the Willaumez Peninsula in northern New Britain, was intercepted by five enemy fighters. It destroyed two of them and severely damaged the other three. An enemy reconnaissance aeroplane was shot down over Buna, in northern Papua, while our night fighters over Port Moresby destroyed one of two enemy bombers raiding the area under cover of darkness. Later two more bombers came over and one of them fell to our anti-air-craft defences.

Other targets raided by Allied bombers during the last 48 hours include enemy aerodromes at Tirnika, in Dutch New Guinea, and Koepang and Dilli, on the island of Timor. At Bunabun, inland from Madang, 190 miles down the north NewGuinea coast from Wewak, a Liberator bomber bombed the bridge over the Kumul river. Damage to the bridge will interrupt Japanese supplies being transported along the coastal road to their forces fighting round Mubo.