JAP. LOSSES AT RABAUL

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1943, Page 5

JAP. LOSSES AT RABAUL

’PLANES AND SUPPLIES

' ENEMY REPRISAL RAIDS (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent)

SYDNEY, June 16. Night fighters are being used by the Japanese over Rabaul, in New Britain. Tins new development follows the continued Allied hammering of enemy aerodromes in the area in attacks before dawn. Our raiders have inflicted heavy losses among grounded aircraft, and, it is believed, have also destroyed a considerable quantity of ammunition and supplies. For the fourth time in six nights Allied heavy bombers were over Rabaul on Tuesday. Nineteen Liberators, a record number, comprised the raiding formation, and they made five separate attacks on the Lakunai and Rapopo airfields, extending over two hours. . Reporting the raid, General MacArthur’s communique to-day “Twenty-three tons of fragmentation and incendiary bombs were concentrated on grounded aircraft in the dispersal areas. Many explosions were caused, and seven large fires with flames visible for 60 miles, and numerous small fires in the revetment areas indicated burning aeroplanes. In spite of intense antiaircraft and searchlight activity, and attempted interception by night fighters, all our aeroplanes returned.” A. single Liberator led the attackers on to their targets, and successive blows were struck by larger groups. Three single-seater enemy night fighters, possibly Zeros, fired on the second group of Liberators but did no damage. Aerial reconnaissance made after the latest raid showed 254 aircraft on the four enemy aerodromes near Rabaul —Lakunai, Rapopo, Malaguna, and Vunakanau. The Japanese on Tuesday employed their largest force for some weeks to raid Allied positions m New Guinea Sixty-six aeroplanes took part in two attacks. A force of 27 bombers and 30 fighters attacked three native villages in the Benabena area, near Madang. The precise targets in these raids have not been indicated, but a report states that some damage was done. It was known that there were emergency landing strips in the Benabena area before the war. Nine enemy aeroplanes made a night raid on Dobodura, causing slight damage but no casualties. Beaufighters strafed the enemyoccupied villages of Boana and Kaiapiit, in the Markham Valley, and a Catalina in a night harassing attack started large fires on an enemy aerodrome at Cape Gloucester, in New Britain. . y , Reconnaissance activity only is reported north of Australia in the past 24 hours.

U.S.A. BOMBERS

RUGBY, June 16.

A United States Navy communique states: On the evenings of June 13 and 14 Fortresses and Liberators attacked Japanese installations at Kahili and Shortland Island in the Buin area. On the evening of June 14, Mitchells, escorted by Corsairs, bombed the runway and A.A. positions on the airfield at Vila on Kolombangara Island. Early in the morning on June 15 about 15 Japanese planes dropped bombs at Gudalcanal. No personnel or material damage is reported.

JAPS. LOSE INITIATIVE

SYDNEY, June 16. “The Japanese have allowed the initiative to drop from their grasp in the South-west Pacific,’’ writes the .war correspondent of the “Christian Science Monitor” (W. E. Lucas), explaining the improvement in Allied fortunes in this theatre. Discussing Mr Curtin’s recent statement that the enemy cannot now invade Australia, he says: “On the face of it, it might appear that we have witnessed a remarkable exhibition of sleight-of-hand. In point oi fact, the formidable Japanese forces which according to some observers never appeared more than defensive, have proved to be that very thing. Thus, Mr Curtin’s present optimism might possibly be regarded as a delayed realisation of a position actually existing several months ago. There are, too, other aspects in the Southwest Pacific giving cause for what might be called ‘negative optimism.’ The enemy has done little to prevent our side from improving its defensive as well as its offensive power round New Guinea and north of Australia. Thus, with the general increased pressure against Japan, the position in. this area must automatically take on a rosier colouring.”

TOJO’S CLAIMS.

(Recd. 10.4 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 16

Japan is strengthening her positions for sure victory, said Premier Tojo, addressing an extraordinary session of the Diet, according to the Tokio official radio. He added: A 1 armed by the rapid development of our position, Britain and America are attempting to obstruct and check us at all costs. They increasingly show signs of making further offensives by mobilising a massive force, but Japan has foreseen these things. The Imperial forces will meet the British and American counter-offen-sive wherever it comes, and is developing new methods to defeat it. Japan is putting forth all efforts until her adversaries are brought to submission.

Tojo added: It is Japan’s immutable 'policy to free greater East Asia permanently from Anglo-Saxon domination. Japan intends to facilitate China’s rise and is more than ever determined to assist China by all means.

He reiterated that independence would be granted to the Philippines and Burma and added independence will be granted to the Philippines this year. Japan has also resolved to exhaust all means to expel and eliminate Anglo-Saxon influences from India. . . The Navy Minister, Admiral Shigetard Shimada, announced that Japanese sea and air losses in the war totalled 877 planes, one battleship, three carriers, three cruisers, nineteen destroyers, eleven submarines, and thirteen other warships The Government introduced eight major Bills, including a 620,000,000 yen supplementary budget for the Army and Navy, and 420,000,000 in order to subsidise food production.

The Christchurch-Greymouth railbar was 50 minutes late in arriving at Greymouth this morning. It lost 15 minutes on the Christchurch side and another 35 minutes during shunting operations at Dobson.