JAP. LOSSES CONTINUE

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 November 1943, Page 5

JAP. LOSSES CONTINUE

PLANES AND SHIPS

RABAUL AGAIN BOMBED (N.2LP.A. Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, November 17. Twenty-three Japanese aircraft have been destroyed and 10 probably destroyed; a transport has been sunk, a cargo vessel damaged and beached, and a second cargo vessel damaged, in Allied air operations reported in General MacArthur’s communique to-day. The raids reported included the heaviest yet made by the Royal Australian Air Force Beaufort bombers against Rabaul, where an 8000-ton transport was sunk by a mast-height attack at night. Another large merchantman was damaged in thi.s raid. The Beauforts were over Rabaul for two hours on Sunday night, and reported a considerable concentration of enemy shipping still in the harbour. They dropped 17 tons ot bombs and probably caused more extensive damage than what has been claimed officially. Searchlight glare and intense anti-aircraft fire hindered observation. The _ attack offers evidence of the rising strength of the Royal Australian Air Force in the New Guinea area. , . . The third Japanese shipping loss reported to-day occurred off the New Ireland coast, where Catalinas scoii?d direct bomb hits and forced a vessel to the beach. The main Japanese air losses were inflicted when a Kittyhawk fighter patrol intercepted enemy aircraft raiding Allied forward aerodromes in the Ramu Valley, in North-east New Guinea. They shot down 20 Japanese aircraft and six ethers were probably destroyed. Allied losses were light. Some damage, however, was done on the aerodromes, which provide air support for ground opeiations hi the Ramu Valley. A coun-ter-blow by Allied bombers, which dropped 76 tons of explosives on the enemy’s forward aerodromes round Alexishafen, which, similarly, provide air cover for the Japanese forces in the Ramu Valley, met with no fighter interception. This was the fifth big Allied air attack on the area in the last 10 days. JAPS AGAIN HARD HIT SYDNEY, November 18, , Heavy toll of Japanese shipping m New Britain,—Northern Solomons area, continues to be taken by General MacArthur’s aircraft. A 6000ton cargo ship in a convoy oft New Ireland was attacked by our reconnaissance units, receiving two direct hits forward of the 'bridge. Beaufighters in a low-level sweep along the New Eiitain coast strafed and sank three enemy coastal vessels. At Hansa Bay, Northern New Guinea, a 2500-ton vessel was left sinking by the stern, alter two direct hits were scored by one of our reconnaissance bombers. In the Solomons and along the North New Guinea coast a number of enemy barges have been attacked. Seven Japanese aircraft have been definitely destroyed by fire, and five others probably destroyed, in otner operations reported in General MacArthur’s communique, to-day.

EXTENT OF SUPPLIES

SYDNEY, Nov. 17

“The South-west Pacific has something less than 5 per cent, of the United States, military resources, and is now receiving something less than 10 per cent, of what the United States is shipping overseas. This is .more than was being sent formerly.” A spokesman at General MacArthur’s Headquarters to-day made this reply when asked to comment on a recent statement by Rear-Admiral W. H. Young, of the United States Navy, that American supplies were now reaching the South-west Pacific in quantities sufficient for large-scale operations against the Japanese. ‘ Saying he was reluctant to discuss the subject, the spokesman added that the percentages for air resources were somewhat lower than those stated above. Without complaint, the area was doing everything it could with what it had. (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent) (Rec. 1.45) SYDNEY, Nov. 18. The statement by Gen. MacArthur s spokesman that the South-west Pacific has something less than five per cent of the United States military resources is aimed chiefly at correcting exaggerated ideas on. the American home front of the volume of war equipment supplied to this area. False estimates, it is felt, must discount what have been achieved with the resources actually supplied, and create an impression that much more could have been done. It is not denied that the South-west Pacific strength has been substantially built up in recent months, but comments by MacArthur’s spokesman are interpreted as challenging the statement of Rear Admiral Young that American supplies are reaching this area in quantities sufficient for large-scale operations against the Japanese. Allocations, it is stated, have ceeded the requirements of a holding war, of which the current ihieat to the Japanese base of Rabaul is regarded as part. However, the figures mentioned by the S < P° do not include any of the South Pacific air, land or sea strength from which substantial task forces have been drawn lor co-ordinating in the New Guinea-Solomons campaign under MacArthur’s command These forces were assigned to MacArthu under the tactical command of the Allied Commander in the South Pacific Admiral Halsey. It is understood that air allocations ana replacement schedules for various war theatres will shortly be reviewed in the light of the campaign and strategical needs.

COMPARATIVE LOSSES

WASHINGTON, November 17. A Navy spokesman listed Japanese claims of Allied shins sunk or damaged since Pearl Harbour as follow: Battleships, 26 sunk, 12 damaged: aircraft-carriers, 14 sunk six damaged; cruisers, 80 sunk, 37 damaged: destroyers, 82 sunk, 31 damaged; submarines, 147 sunk. 51 damaged The United States Navy s official figures of its own losses in all war theatres are: One battleship, foui carriers, nine cruisers, destioyers, and 14 submarines.