PACIFIC CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1944, Page 5

PACIFIC CAMPAIGN

JAP. CASUALTIES HEAVY AERIAL RAIDS CONTINUED (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent) "SYDNEY, May 14. The Japanese killed in the Hol-landia-Aitape sector of northern New Guinea now total 1716.. lhe number captured is 354, which is the highest number taken on any Pacific front. Patrols from the American forces which landed at Hollandia and Aitape on April 22 are continuing mopping up operations. A particularly high proportion of prisoners to killed is reported in General MacArthur’s latest communique, which says that, pursuing enemy base and supply troops fled inland after the Allied landings, the Americans have killed a further 101 and captured 30. Two main enemy air bases within striking distance of Hollandia, Wakde Island and Biak Island, are being steadily smashed by General MacArthur’s bombers. Wakde Island, 110 miles west of Hollandia, was attacked by Liberators and Mitchells on Thursday. Carrying 150 tons of bombs, the raiders scored repeated hits on the airfield, antiaircraft batteries, and supply and defence areas. Other Liberators on Thursday and Friday renewed their assault on Mokmer aerodrome, on Biak Island, in Geelvink Bay, starting fires in the dispersal areas in four separate night and day raids. No Japanese fighter opposition Was met, but one Allied aeroplane was shot down by antiaircraft fire, the crew being saved. On the south-west coast of Dutch New Guinea, Mitchells bombed the Wissei Lakes sector and Timikia airfield. Small lake craft, a radio station, and gun positions were destroyed. To the north of Australia, other Japanese airfields on the island of Timor and the Burn and Amboina Islands have been targets for night bombing attacks. Australian troops driving up the New Guinea coast are now 30 miles beyond Madang, having reached Megiar plantation, five miles northwest of Cape Croiselles. No enemy opposition to the advance has been reported. 14 MORE SHIPS SUNK. WASHINGTON, May 12. United States submarines have sunk another 14 enemy vessels in the Pacific and Far East waters. A United States Navy communique lists the sinkings as one destroyer, one large tanker, one medium tanker, one medium transport, one medium cargo transport, seven medium cargo vessels, one small cargo transport, and one small cargo vessel. JAP. PLANE LOSSES. PEARL HARBOUR, May 12. Admiral Nimitz has announced that the Pacific Fleet has destroyed 1229 Japanese aeroplanes and lost 164 aeroplanes itself in the last eight months. ATTACK ON TRUK. ! * WASHINGTON, May 14. A heavy attack on Truk atoll by two flights of Army Liberators before dawn on Thursday is reported in a Pacific Fleet communique. Sixty-two tons of bombs were dropped on the airfields, causing fires and explosions. One intercepting enemy aeroplane was shot down and another probably destroyed. All the Liberators returned. Single aeroplanes on the same day bombed Ponape Island and the airstrip on Kusaie Island. A search aeroplane shot down a Japanese medium bomber north-east of Truk. Other aeroplanes bombed enemyheld positions in the Marshalls, hitting runways, anti-aircraft batteries, and barracks. The attack on Truk by South-west Pacific Liberators, made on Wednesday, is now revealed as one of the heaviest yet launched from this area into the Carolines. Nearly 100 tons of bombs were dropped on the warehouses and towns hit at Dublon Island and on the hangars and repair shops at Eten Island. The Liberators fought a 35-minute battle against 30 Japanese fighters. The battle began over Truk atoll and continued for 100 miles. Six enemy fighters were shot down, and two more probably destroyed. One Liberator was lost. NAURU BOMBED (Recd. Noon). WASHINGTON, May 14. Mitchell bombers attacked Nauru on Friday, hitting an ammunition dump, prosphate works, and an airfield, says a Pacifie Fleet communique. Other bombers and fighters attacked enemy positions in the Marshalls.