TEN JAP AREAS BOMBED

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1943, Page 5

TEN JAP AREAS BOMBED

NORTH OF AUSTRALIA

Within 24 Hours

WARSHIP STRANDED AT RABAUL.

(Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec. 9.0) SYDNEY, Feb. 25.

A large Japanese warship, in making desperate efforts to dodge Allied bombs yesterday, crashed into a reef at the southern end of Rabaul harbour. At least seven enemy vessels, including other warships, as well as this one, were attacked in waters around New Britain and New Ireland by General MacArthur’s bombers on Wednesday. When last seen the large warship which has not been identified, was stationery on a reef, but its fate is not known. Flying Fortresses maintained the hammering of the newest concentration of enemy warships and transports in Rabaul harbour. In low altitude attacks with 500-lb. bombs, there was a direct hit scored on a ten thousand-ton merchantman. Two small warships were seen to be zig-zagging to escape being damaged by heavy bombs that were exploding within twenty feet of them. Such close misses often prove more destructive than direct hits, bombs having a torpedo effect in smashing ships’ plates below the waterline. No enemy air interception was encountered, and all the Allied bombers returned.

Off Cape St. George, the most southerly point of New Ireland Island, Liberators attacked a destroyer and a merchant vessel, but the preliminary reports do hot give results.

Liberator bombers have again won distinction with an epic performance against enemy fighters. Over Open Bay, in New Britan, a lone bomber on reconnaissance was attacked by thirteen Zeros. An air battle ended ‘after four Zeros had been shot down into the sea.

Heavy Allied air attacks continue on the Japanese in occupied villages in the Lae-Mubo-Hwaria area in northern * New Guinea. Thousandpound bombs have caused terrific destruction among flimsy native-built hutments. Malshang aerodrome and installations at Lae, and the villages of Angari and Canga, both within two miles of the enemy main New Guinea base have all felt the weight of the latest Allied bombing attacks. Havoc attack planes have made 18 sweeps along the Mubo-Komiatim trail by which supplies are moved up to the Japanese forward defences near Mubo.

No further reports have been made of ground activity in the Mubo area.

In all. ten enemy-occupied areas north and north-west of Australia, have been attacked by Allied aircraft in the past 24 hours.

SOLOMONS FRONT Jap Air Raid ON NEW HEBRiDIES. WASHINGTON, Feb. 24. A Navy communique states; During the morning of February', 21, Japanese planes carried out a light raid on United States positions at Espiritu Santo Island, the largest of the New Hebrides islands. OTHER JAP RAIDS. WASHINGTON, Feb. 24. A U.S. Navy communique reports: During the night of February' 21/22, Japanese planes raided United States positions at Tulagi. During the early morning of February 23 an enemy plane dropped bombs on an airfield at Guadalcanal , U.S. Air Raids IN NORTH SOLOMONS. WASHINGGTON, Feb. 24. The U.S. Navy, reports: On the afternoon of February 21 Avenger torpedo-planes and Dauntless divebombers, escorted by' fighters, attacked Japanese positions at Munda. Several fires were started. On February 22, a United States search plane operating near Choiseful Island, scored bomb hits on an enemy' baige loaded with Japanese soldiers. During the later afternoon, Airacobras, Corsairs and Lightnings strafed enemy positions at Rekata. During the tight’ lof February 23, Liberator heavy bombers bombed enemv positions at Vila and Munda* All tlip United States planes returned