PACIFIC AERIAL WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 September 1943, Page 5

PACIFIC AERIAL WAR

JAPS. AGAIN HARD HIT ENEMY TROOP CASUALTIES

SYDNEY, September 21. Heavy attacks by General MacArthur’s bombers on the Japanese bases at Cape Gloucester, on the western tip of New Britain, and Finschhafen. on the coast of the Huon Peninsula, in New Guinea, are reported in to-day’s communique from South-west Pacific Headquarters. The heaviest blow on Sunday was struck by Liberators and Fortresses at Cape Gloucester, where the aerodrome dispersal points and supply and bivouac areas were attacked with, 94 tons of bombs. Five enemy bombers and a fighter were caught in the concentrated bombing. Two antiaircraft positions were destroyed and another silenced. Many large and small fires were caused, and a huge pall of smoke over the target was visible for 70 miles. There was no enemy interception and all the bombers returned. Beaufighters strafed the aerodrome at Kimne Bay, on the north coast of New Britain, scoring direct hits on supply dumps, anti-aircraft positions and surface craft on the beach. One fighter was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. ■ Liberator, Marauder and Mitchell bombers attacked the whole Finschhafen area, in New Guinea, including the aerodrome, the town, a number of surrounding, villages, and surface craft in the harbour. The bombers dropped 21 tons of explosives and also strafed the targets. Neither damage nor casualties resulted from a feeble night raid on Port Moresby by two Japanese bombers. It was Port Moresby s first raid for a month. General MacArthur’s bombers were also active on Sunday in the north-western sector of the Southwest Pacific. In an attack before dawn heavy bombers dropped 2o tons of explosives on the town and seaplane base at Amboina, on Amboina Island, causing numerous large fires and explosions. The aerodrome and warships at Namlea, on Boeroe Island, were raided at night by Allied heavy bombers which scored direct hits on the targets and started large fires. , . , Allied troops at several points north of Lae have made contact with parties of Japanese trying to escape into the mountains. In each case Lie Japanese ran into our troops blocking the trails and according to official reports the enemy has been “reduced. Japanese from the Salamaua area have been attacked and destroyed south of the Markham River, and some prisoners have been taken. USE OF "AIRFIELDS SYDNEY. September 21. Allied aircraft will shortly be using the aerodrome at Lae for offensive action against the Japanese. Bomb holes have been filled in and wreckage cleared from the field. The Malahang air field close io Lae is also being rapidly prepared. Lae is 400 miles south-west of the power! ul 'Japanese base at Rabrml, and within fighter range of enemy buses al Mudang and Wewak, Northern New Guinea. Rabaul, which has been m enemy hands since the beginning ot last year, has been the target for heavy' attacks by Allied bombers in recent months. Fighter aircraft based on Lae and Salamaua aerodromes will now be able to provide escorts for attacks on Gasmata, , on the southern coast of New Britain, midpoints farther along the coast.. “The capture ot Lae is a signal step along the road to victory," said General Blarney, in an order of the day. “It was due to intensive bombing by the Air Force and its constant 'protection of the Navy and Army from the enemy in the air, and to the strong support given by the Navy in transporting and protecting our land forces to a vital point. Our succes was due to the valour and endurance of all those troops who fought over severe mountain regions, from Mubo, Komiatum and Mount Tambu to Salamaua, and to those who moved many miles by sea and air and marched and fought Ihe enemy to a finish at Lae itself. The enemy remnant has fled, but few will escape i the hardships of the mountain tracks.”

The Japanese have suffered damage from which they will find it hard to recover immediately, said MajorGeneral Twining, Commander of the South Pacific Air Force, referring to the Allied air offensive in the Solomons. Recent blows have been*. the most severe yet in the South Pacific. Ballale airfield is out of commission and Kahili is cut to ribbons. SOLOMONS ISLANDS SYDNEY, September 21. Air activity in the Central Solomons on. Sunday was on a reduced scale. Enemy gun positions on Kolombangara Island were bombed and strafed by Allied medium, torpedoand dive-bombers, causing large fires and explosions. Twelve Japanese bombers made several night raids on the Munda area. New Georgia, and Barakoma, on Vella Lavella. Only minor damage was caused, and there were no casualties. ‘Tn a fierce dogfight on Saturday between American Corsair and Japanese Zero fighters over Ballale aerodrome, on Bougainville Island, Major Gregory Boyington, of the United States Marine Corps, shot clown five Zeros single-handed,” reports a South Pacific war correspondent. “Other pilots of Major Boyington’s squadron bagged six more Zeros.” Major Boyington destroyed six Japanese bombers m China while ho was flying with the American "Flying Tigers.” In four days of air operations in the Solomons the Japanese have lost 68 aeroplanes. Allied losses in the period were 14 aircraft, but four of the pilots were saved. STRATEGY CONTROVERSY MACARTHUR & MOUNTBATTEN

(Reed. 12,25 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 22. A. wide difference of opinion on the strategy to be used in the drive against Japan is revealed in a statement issued in New Guinea by General MacArthur. The statement implies that Australia is the most natural and effective base from which a direct major offensive against Japan can be launched, because it has industrial, agricultural, and communication resources, arsenals, and other facilities to support massive strokes using the methods of the Lae campaign.

General MacArthur contends that such a conception is the very opposite! of the “island hopping” strategy involved in the drives from Hawaii and the Aleutians or from China by way of the Burma Road. He made the statement when shown recent Press reports from the United States and Britain that Lord Louis Mountbatten’s appointment means' that General MacArthur’s part in the war is to be progressively curtailed and reduced to a subsidiary role. “It makes little difference whether I or others wield the weapon just so long as the cause for which our beloved country fights is victorious,” said General MacArthur in his statement. “My strategic conception for the Pacific theatre contemplates

massive strokes against only P ie main strategic objectives, utilising surprise and air-ground striking power, supported and assisted by the Fleet. This is the very opposite to island hopping, which is the gradual pushing back of the enemy by direct frontal pressure with consequent heavy casualties. Key points must, of course, be taken, but wise choice will obviate the need for storming the mass of islands now in enemy possession. “Island hopping with extravagant losses and Slow progress (some reports are indicating that victory will be postponed as late as 1949) is not mv idea of how to end the war as soon and as cheaply as possible. New conditions require for their solution and new weapons require for thenmaximum application new and imaginative methods. Wars are never won in the past. I have no personal military ambitions whatsoever, and am perfectly content in such a role as may be prescribed for me.” It is believed the main strategic objectives mentioned ’ by General MacArthur include such areas as the Philippines and Malaya. Island hopping, it is argued, would be involved in naval and air attacks from Hawaii and the Aleutians, or from Chipa via the Burma Road. Drives from these directions would have to be based either on the far distant West Coast of the United States or equally distant India. In addition, the Burma Road could not support operations on a major scale. MacArthur considers the success of the co-ordinated campaign against Lae was a small-scale illustration ol what could be done further north on a bigger scale. These is reason to believe that Lord Mouinbatten s command includes part of the youthwest Pacific area, although tins has not been officially confirmed or denied Some observers link the piesent obvious differences of opinion, between MacArthur' and Washington ?n Pacific strategy with a tendency in some political cirles m America to sidetrack MacArthur.

■GREAT OFFENSIVE COMING

(Rec. 10.45 a.m.) x 1 NEW YORK, September 21. “The great offensives in which our full strength will be hurled against the enemy in Asia and Europg, are just about to begin,” declared General Marshall, addressing the American Legion Convention at Omaha. He added: “Now, at last, we are readv to carry the war to t.ie enemy, with a power and force that we hope will bring an early conclusion.” General Marshall said that preparations had been made in North Africa and Sicily, and were about to be made in Italy, for support of huge ground and air forces, and for a long time similar preparations had been under way in Britain and the Pacific. “It will discourage the Japanese to learn our most difficult problem is to find sufficient bases from which to operate the vast forces to be poured into the Pacific for a rearrangement of the Sons ol Heaven’s affairs with his military clique, but these matters are not the result of a propaganda campaign of temporary enthusiasms, or special interests. Wo must proceed in the most businesslike manner possible to make this war so terrible to the enemy and so overwhelming in character that never again can a small group of dictators find sufficient following to destroy the peaceful security of the civilised world.” ALLIES’ COM MANDER. WASHINGTON, September 21. s General George Marshall has been ’tentatively- chosen to become virtual global Commander-in-Chief of all the British and American forces in the field, on the ground, on the sea, and in the air, says the Associated Press. He will execute the victory pattern shaped at Quebec. JAPANESE ANXIETY NEW YORK. September 21. Tokio radio announced that the Japanese Cabinet, at an extraordinary session, decided on drastic measures and changes on the home front to meet the present grave war situation. Details will be announced to-morrow, when Tojo is broadcasting. BOMBINGS"IN BURMA RUGBY, Sept. 21. An India communique states that • the general situation in Burma remains unchanged. Activity is confined to regular patrolling. R.A.F. Beaufighters, yesterday, carried out a series of attacks on Japanese road and rail communications over Western Burma, stretching from You, in the north,'to the Maungup Pass road in the south. Sixteen army lorries were hit. Mohawks bombed Japanese-occupied . villages near Kawlin, scoring direct hits on buildings, thus starting large fires. In Arakan Venturas bombed enemy-occu-pied areas. None of our aircraft is missing.