LATE MESSAGES

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1944, Page 2

LATE MESSAGES

MARSHALLS BOMBED. WASHINGTON, March 22. Keeping up their attacks on enemy positions in the Marshalls American bombers attacked 'four bases on Monday, says a Pacific Fleet communique. A heavy explosion was observed on one objective and several small explosions and fires on another. All our planes returned. JAP. LOSSES. CHUNGKING, March 22. Two Japanese 800-ton cargo steamers were sunk and two others damaged north of Haiphong in attacks by 14th Air Force planes, says General Stilwell’s communique. Railway trains and bridges and also shipping were attacked at Campha, a port in Tonking Gulf. Planes damaged a Japanese fort near Chingchow on the Yangtse River. Liberators are believed to have damaged two steamers off the East China coast. No American planes were lost on these missions. JAP SHIPS LOST. SYDNEY, March 23. In further heavy aerial blows against Japanese shipping off the north-east New Guinea coast, a destroyer and two cargo ships have been sunk. The cargo vessels were of 1000 to 1500 tons each, and together with the destroyer were attacked near Aitape, between Wewak and Hollandia. This is the fifth Japanese convoy destroyed recently in these waters. Other big air raids reported by General MacArthur’s latest communique include attacks on Wewak (160 tons), and Rabaul (133 tons). Considerable damage was done in each target, area. No enemy air interception is reported. In land fighting, American troops wno landed in the St. Matthias Group on Monday are reported to be consolidating their positions on Emirau Island. To the south-east, slight Japanese opposition on Elomusao Island has been quickly overcome, and the island is now in our hands. In New Guinea. Australian troops from Mintjim Valley are reported to be within seven miles of the Japanese coastal supply base of Bogadjim,

STRIKES IN BRITAIN. LONDON, March 22. As the coal owners and miners’ leaders began the wage stabilisation talks in London, thousands more Yorkshire pit workers joined the thou-

sands already striking, bringing the total idle to about 22,000. Thirteen collieries are affected. Nearly 20,000 workers in the Belfast shipyards, aircraft and engineerj ing industries are also idle because of strikes over wages.