FIGHTING FLARES UP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21151, 20 July 1943, Page 3

FIGHTING FLARES UP

CLASHES NEAR SALAMAUA ENEMY FREIGHTER SUNK (11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 20. Fifty Japanese fighters were routed by a much smaller force of Lockheed Lightnings in the Lae-Salamaua area of northern New Guinea on' Sunday afternoon. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed, four probably destroyed and two more damaged without Allied loss. The land fighting also flared up again inland from Salamaua during the week-end. Sharp patrol clashes resulted in the capture of Japanese positions near Mount Tambu and Orodubi. The Allied ground operations were supported by Mitcheff medium bombers which made 25 strafing passes over the area. In Huon Gulf, about six miles north oi Salamaua, Allied surface units destroyed a large enemy barge. A war correspondent suggests that these units are patrol torpedo-craft. A small Japanese cargo ship of 500 to 1000 tons has been sunk by our bombers off Cape Orford, off the south coast of New Britain. The ship was first located and attacked by a Mitchell bomber on Saturday and left damaged. On Sunday morning other Mitchells found the damaged ship anchored close to the shore and sank it in five minutes. . „

Over Darwin on Sunday Spitfires shot down one of two enemy reconnaissance planes which had separated on reaching the mainland.