NORTH OF AUSTRALIA

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1942, Page 5

NORTH OF AUSTRALIA

Enemy Planes Forestalled MELBOURNE, April 26. The Allied Headquarters in Australia, in tneir Friday report, recorded an increase in the frequency of small-scale Japanese raids on 'Port Moresby. , , The communique also revealed that Allied planes are keeping up systematic attacks on Rabaul, and that, another successful raid was delivered on Thursday. The enemy attacked Port Moresby three times during Thursday. The first was at 10 a.m., with eight heavy bombing planes and a fighter escort. The best was' at 11.30 a.m., with three fighters, and a third at 3 p.m. with two fighters with negligible effect. On Thursday morning, the Allied Air Force attacked shipping barracks and warehouses at Rabaul. Personnel were subjected to ffiachiner gun fire, and incendiaries were dropped on wharf establishments. The dnemy attempted to intercept with four zero type planes, without effect. (Rec. 6.30). CANBERRA, April 26. A High Command communique states: — The enemy made an air raid on Port Moresby, in New Guinea, at noon on Friday, with seven fighters. Our fighter aircraft successfully intercepted them, in a sanguinary combat. “Our air forces also bombed Lae airfield in New Guinea. Newspaper correspondents report that on Thursday, the enemy’s air activity in the New Guinea area was most persistent of any date up to date. The enemy aircraft seemed to be bent on trying to disorganise the Allied air offensive. (Planes roared across the sky from dawn to dusk. In one raid on Port Mores.bv on Thursday, the enemy planted a’ load of bombs near the aerodrome, but these caused no damage. Tte> Japanese planes were chased away. In a later raid, a small force of Japanese fighter planes sneaked in, and they gunned the airfield area. When going out, they shot up a small roadside encampment, where Australian and English war correspondents had stopped for tea. ine pressmen found a safe refuge in a slit trench. Other attacks by the Japanese were anticipated, and the Japanese were beaten to it on each occasion. Allied aircraft did a good job over Rabaul, in New Britain Island, on Thursday. In one attack they straddled shipping in the harbour in low level attacks, and bombed wharves and sheds, caused havoc, in addition to ground-’straffing fleeing Japanese. r UG BY, Aprll 23 .

A Sout.h-west Placif.c area communique states: On Tuesday afternoon, our a.ir force made a surprise atituck on enemy establishments in New Britain, in the vicinity of Ra.baul, with direct hits on buildings. On the following morning, we again hit the dock, which was the miam Ob In. Ct the Netherlands East .Jnd* 63 - flght’lng is still in progress, with elements of the Australian and Dritch esi*Nphments operating jointly m

Wider Enemy Raids INTERCEPTED ON SATURDAY.

JAPS. LOSE ELEVEN ’PLANES.

(Rec 12 30.) MELBOURNE, Apr. 26. An Allied G.H.Q. communique, issued to-day, says: Enemy bomMid' ment attacks on Saturday ran D e from the north-west cf Australia to the Solomon Islands. , ‘The enemy heavily attacked Darwin, with twenty-four bombers and a fighter escort. . “Our air force brilliantly intercepted the enemy, destroying eight bombers and three fighters. Our lossess were negligible. “The enemy attacked Port Moresby with fifteen fighters. Our air force successfully intervened. The damage was slight. . “The tiiemy attacked Tulagi, m the Solomon Islands, with eight bombers. The damage was negligible.

DR. EVATT GOING TO LONDON.

WASHINGTON, April 24. Dr. Evatt conferred with State Secretary Hull to-day, when they discussed various international affairs, and exchanged information. Mr. Hull told the press Dr. Evatt is going to London soon. Dr. Evatt went to New York to-night to attend the Anzac dinner, returning to Washington tomorrow. LONDON, April 23. It is officially stated that when Japan entered the war there were nine ocean-going French merchantmen. in the Far East, aggregating 85,000 gross tons; also coasters and local craft. The Japanese are now reported to have requisitioned 50,000 tons, which are almost certainly ocean-going vessels, but it would not be in the public interest to disclose their whereabouts.