CENTRAL PACIFIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1944, Page 6

CENTRAL PACIFIC

. — TASK FORCE’S ATTACK JAP. PLANES DESTROYED ~ SYDNEY, June 12. Liberators from General MacArthur’s command, supporting simultaneous action by an American naval task force in the Mariana Islands, struck strongly against Japanese Central Pacific bases on Friday and Saturday. At least twenty-two parked ’planes were destroyed at Palau, about six hundred miles south-west of the Marianas, and a similar distance due east of the Philippines. Other Liberators, which raided aei’odromes and the seaplane base at Truk were intercepted by thirty Japanese fighters. Three of the enemy ’planes were either destroyed or damaged. One Liberator was lost. The Marianas are 690 miles north-west of Truk, and are sixteen hundred miles from Tokio. Their reduction would be a major step in a drive to reconquer the Philippines. The Marianas were previously raided by an American naval task force on February 22. For the first time in many months, two Japanese fighters, on Friday, opposed an attack on Rabaul, m New Britain, by American and New Zealand manned ’planes from the Solomons. The enemy’s interception effort was ineffectual. Thousands or tons of explosives have been previously dropped on Rabaul without interference from the Japanees air force. FURTHER-BLOWS WASHINGTON, June 12. Carrier-aircraft again struck at Guam, Tinian and Saipan on Sunday, according to a Pacific Fleet communique. Army Liberators attacked Truk atoll on Friday night. Airfields on Eten, Dublon and Moen Islands were the principal targets. Several fires were started. Liberators bombed Ponape, hitting Ponape town and gun positions. Many Venturas bombed Ocean Island and two Venturas continued to Nauru and strafed small craft there. Other aircraft bombed and strafed enemy positions in thiMarshalls. Coastal guns and antiaircraft batteries were hit. 18 MORE SHIPS SUNK. WASHINGTON, June 12. The sinking of 18 enemy vessels in the Pacific and in the Far East by United States submarines is reported in a Navy communique. The vessels were: One large tanker, one medium transport, six medium cargo transports, six medium cargo vessels and four small cargo vessels.

NEW BATTLESHIP-GUN

WASHINGTON, June 12.

A new and secret battleship gun capable of smashing an 80-ton reinforced concrete block eight feet thick into a crumbled mass with one shot has been demonstrated to press representatives.

Rear-Admiral George Hussey, Chief of Navy Ordnance, said that the marines who died at Tarawa last year, because the Navy’s big- guns j were unable to reduce the enemy’s concrete fortifications, were responsible for the new development. He added: “We began experiments after Tarawa and had the answer when we invaled Kwajalein. Now we have reven more surprises prepared for the Japanese. They cannot yet be described, but they include a ‘gun package,' about the size of a 500 lb. bomb carried under the wings of an aeroplane on both sides of the fuselage. Each gun package shoots two mach-ine-guns, thus radically increasing the plane’s (ire-power. The packages may be jettisoned when the ammunition is exhausted.” N.Z. AIRMEN’S EXPLOIT (R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) BOUGAINVILLE, June 11. Scoring 94 bomb hits on a Japanese supply dump south of Rabaul, New Zealand Avenger bombers made one of the most concentrated attacks they have yet launched against the enemy. It was a bitterly contested action, as the Japanese had gathered many heavy anti-aircraft guns to make what appeared to be a supreme effort to stop the Avengers. Dive-bombers went in first to engage the guns, but were practically ignored by the enemy gunners, who withheld their fire until the New Zealand aircraft went in to strike. Then they opened up a fierce barrage, which yvas both accurate and heavy. Flight Lieutenant F. Adams, of Gisborne, who led the Avengers, said the sky was filled with black puffs and the flashes of exploding shells. Several aircraft were holed and one, piloted by Flight Sergeant Jackson, of Maungaturoto, had the starboard elevator and half the starboard tailplane' shot off, with damage to the rudder, but the pilot was able to return safely to base and make an excellent landing with nobody injured. Large fires were started in the target area, which was thoroughly plastered. The Japanese are still making every effort to stop Allied aircraft getting through, but the pounding continues almost without respite.