PACIFIC CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 January 1944, Page 5

PACIFIC CAMPAIGN

JAP. SHIPPING DESTROYED

TROOP-LADEN BARGES SUNK

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

SYDNEY, January 23. The sinking of three ships, including one gunboat, and the sinking or damaging of at least 21- barges ana surface craft, are reported m General MacArthur’s communique to-day. Naval units sank an enemy gunboa. and set on fire five barges and damaged others in the Bougainville Straff. They also sank two barges m Choiseul Bay. A 3000-ton enemy freighter was sunk by two direct hus east of Lorehgau in the Admiialty Islands, and a 7000-ton enemy tankei was bombed and sunk at Schoutan Islands, in New Guinea. Escorted medium units from, boiomons bases attacked Vunakanau aerodrome at Rabaul from a low altitude, causing explosions and fires ana destroying three parked fighters ana silencing many gun positions. A lm& e cargo ship in Blanche Bay was strayed. Fifteen, enemy fighters were shot down in air combat, with three probably destroyed. Six Allied aeroplanes were lost. Night harassing patrols started fires in the Rabaul town arec.. At Wide Bay and Rein Bay air patrols destroyed four enemy barges at each place. Dumps near the Erma jetty at Madang were set on fire and six surface craft were destroyed at Cape Croissilles. Numerous explosions and fires jesuited when heavy units attacked the enemy seaplane base in the Halong wharf, area at Amboina, and shipping in the harbour. Five intercepting enemy fighters were shot down. .. lied losses were two aircraft. . A correspondent says that in a daring dash by Allied torpedo-boats north of Alexishafen, in. New Guinea, four Japanese barges were destroyed, bringing about the death of 160 Japanese troops. The enemy dead were well equipped and were wearing new uniforms. Pushing sea warfare right up to the Japanese bases at Madang and Alexishafen, these Allied smaf craft gained their success of e Croissilles. It was the most northwesterly penetration reported oy patrol torpedo-boats. Allied destroyers . bombarded enemy shore instsllcitions between Ramandata and Gohi, in the JBuka passage an the Solomons. Patrol torpedo-boats also shelled enemy positions near the Jabe River mouth, and Aitara, at Empress Bay. A close watch on enemy coastal traffic is also being kept by Allied air patrols. A Liberator attacked and damaged a 1000-ton freighter eight miles north-west of Aitape, beyond Wewak. Strong formations of Mitchell bombers, with Kittyhawk escorts, heavily attacked the Hansa Bay area.' Low-level bombing runs blew up supply dumps, anti-aircraft positions, and other installations. Waves of Thunderbolt fighters led strafing attacks against the same objectives and small shipping. Twenty barges were sunk and others damaged.

NEW GUINEA ADVANCE

SYDNEY, January 23. “In the Ramu Valley area of New Guinea, our ground forces are advancing up the Faria River to the watershed,” says General Ma c * Arthur’s communique. “Our fighter aircraft in direct ground support dive-bombed enemy positions in tne upper Faria River valley. _ A correspondent says the attack is being macle by Australians.

LATEST ENEMY LOSSES

(Rec. 1.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 24. Sustained heavy damage of Japanese shipping over a wide area 0the South-west Pacific is recorded oy General. MacArthur’s communique to-dav. The communique also reporis important Australian gains in land fighting in the difficult Faria. River countrv in' the Ramu Valley, New Guinea. The Japanese abandoned 100 dead, following a successful Australian flanking action. General MacArthur’s aircraft have inflicted further damage on enemy shipping in the following zones:--Timor, three small coastal vessels destroyed. Admiralty Islands: 20i:6ton. freighter left burning and listing; patrol vessel and barges destroyed. New Ireland: Small vessel sunk in the Tangai Islands. New Guinea: 1000ton '’fuel-laden vessel blown up at Hansa Bay. New Britain: Five barges destroyed by our planes and lignt naval craft.

KURILE ISLE BOMBED

WASHINGTON', Jaiuary 22. Two groups of United States Navy bombers based in. the Aleutians bombed. Paramushir in the Kurile Islands yesterday, says a Unueu States Navy communique. The nrsu group attacked enemy installations on the southern, coast at midnight. A second group three hours later bombed enemy installations on the northern. part of the island. All the aeroplanes returned safely.

JAPANESE ESTIMATE

LONDON, Jan. 21. "Only a hair’s-breadth separates final victory from defeat/' said To jo, addressing‘the Diet, according to messages from Tokio. “We have improved our sea and land transportation, but our losses at sea cannot be minimised,” he said. ‘‘We are speeding up ship-building and strengthening air protection. Japanese aircraft production was doubled last year, and it will be further increased.” . The Berlin radio, quoting lokio, said that Germany held an impregnable position in Europe, and that Japanese-German unity was inseparable. „ , 41 The Tokio radio says that the Foreign Minister (Mr. Shigemitus) told the Diet that Britain and America had thus far touched only the outer fringe of the Axis defences.