ENEMY RAIDS

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1942, Page 5

ENEMY RAIDS

On Darwin and Thursday Island [Aust. & N.Z. Cabffi Asrj’.j CANBERRA, March 17. Mr Curtin announced that on Monday Darwin was again raided by Japanese aircraft. . The previous raid on Darwin—its third—-was on March 4, when Japanese navy fighters machine-gunned R.A.AI.F. .installations. The raid, said Mr Curtin, was on u smaller scale than the previous attack. and was carried out by 14 heavy bombers, ooerating in formations of seven. There were some casualties. The exact figures are not yet known The bombs dropped were mostly or the “anti-personnel” type (bornos with extremely thin casing designed to creiate the maximum blast), ine enemy concentrated on definite targets, but an early survey revealed the result of the damage was small. Darwin Casualties 13 ON MONDAV. (Rec. 9.30). CANBERRA. March 17. Two service men were killed and eleven were wounded on Monday, at Darwin, in a raid by Japanese aircraft. The raid, according to a communique issued to-day, was directed at R.A.F. objectives. No attack was made on the township. About one hundred bombs were dropped. There was some damage to buildings, but no aircraft were destroyed. Enemy machines operated from fifteen thousand feer. SYDNEY. March 16. The Japanese used at least 30 aircraft in their widespeard and largely ineffective raids on the Thursday Island area. In addition to the enemy aeroplanes destroyed, several others were damaged. Allied fighters intercepted and broke up an enemy formation over Torres Strait, a heavy bomber being shot down in flames. In a series of dogfights over the strait, enemy machines were hit and damaged.’ One Allied pilot rammed an enemy fighter, stripping off one ot its wings and causing it to crash. Though he had himself lost a portion of a wing, the pilot succeeded in landing safely. NEW GUINEA GUERRRILLA r WAR. LONDON, March 16. A new algency reports say the guerrilla' warfare is being waged by Australian troops in north-east New Guinea. The troops retire to the hills from which they swoop down on the Japanese, who are keeping near to the coast. NO FRESH ENEMY LANDINGS. (Rec. 8.50.) CANBERRA, March 17. A communique stated: “No fresh landings by the Japanese are reported either in New Guinea or Papua.’’ AUSTRALIAN RAID ON TIMOR LONDON. March 16. Australian aircraft bombed an en-emy-occupied aerodrome at Dilli, in Portuguese l Timor. All the bombs fell in the target area and the Australians suffered no losses.