HEAVY JAP LOSSES

Grey River Argus, 23 January 1943, Page 5

HEAVY JAP LOSSES

AT SANANANDA Deluge of Rain — ENEMY STILL DEFIANT [Special to N.Z. Press Assn.J (Rec. 9.45.) SYDNEY. Jan. 22.. Allied forces are rapidly destroying- the remaining Japanese resistance around Sanananda Point, in north Papua. One enemy pocket was cleaned out op Thursday. There were one hundred and fifty Japanese killed in this operation Heavy casualties have also been inflicted on enemy troops defending other strongpoints. Allied gains have been made in spite of adverse ground and weather conditions. Ten. inches of rain fell in the Sanananda area on Thursday. • In their three remaining dwindling pockets of resistance, the Japanese garrison are being attacked from all sides. The largest enemy-held area is a beachfront, one hundred and fifty yards long. At Ingiruwa, in the Tarakena area, the enemy troops defiantly hoisted two flags. Australians shot them down. The Japanese immediately hoisted two larger flags, which were also shot down. A.merican and Australian forces are combining their attacks at this point, where the enemy defences are strongest. Japanese power driven barges again have been heard moving at night off Sanananda. Two or three of them may have put briefly into the shore. The purpose’ of their visit has not been established. JAPNAVALBASE Bombed at Ambon CRUISER BELIEVED SUNK. MERCHANT SHIPS ALSO HIT’. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 9.30) SYDNEY, Jan. 22. A Japanese cruiser and a five-thou-crippled in an Allied air raid on Ambon on the Island of Amboina. The attack was made on Japanese shipping at the important naval base of Ambon, Amboina Island, which is about six hundred miles north-west of Darwin, indicates the purpose of recent Allied reconnaissance flights over this area. Liberator bombers made the raid.' A force of about twenty Zeros intercepted the Liberators. Two of the Zeros were shot down. Others were damaged. All of the Allied, planes returned. A cruiser is thought to have been sunk. When last seen the cruiser was listing badly, with smoke pouring from it. No indication has, however,, been given of the likely purpose of the enemy shipping making the concentration at Ambon. It may be intended for an offensive purpose, or more likely, it is being used to strengthen the Japanese positions on Timor Island .and on other islands in the Arafura Sea, north of Darwin. RAID ON RABAUL TWO MERCHANT SHIPS. SEVERELY DAMAGED. [Special to N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 10.50.) SYDNEY, Jan. 22. Two enemy merchantmen have been severely damaged m another heavy raid on Rabaul. the scene of the great Jaoanese war shipping concentration on the north-east of New Britain Island, north of the Solomons. Catalina bombers and Flying Fortresses attacked the shipping in Rabaul harbour in raids lasting for several hours, from midnight on Wednesday, They seriouslv damaged a merchantman of six thousand tons, and another of two thousand tons. On the merchantman, the attacks were pressed home from mast height. The enemy was observed attempting to beach the larger vessel so as to prevent its total loss. Aerodromes in the Rabaul area also, were heavily raided to hamper fighter interception.