THE EARLIER ATTACKS

Grey River Argus, 6 April 1943, Page 5

THE EARLIER ATTACKS

On Kavieng Squadron [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l ■SYDNEY, April 5, Fewer than 12 bombers took part in the week-end attack -which sank three Japanese. warships and severely damaged at least two others, lhe small number of planes which participated i n the raid, officially described as “one of the most devastating made in this area,” heavily underlines the agitation for an increased allotment of aeroplanes to the Southern Pacific. “That his losses will stir the enemy to yet greater efforts to recover fighter supremacy on the New Guinea coasts, is not to be doubted,” declares the “Sydney Morning Plerald” editorially. to-day. for the rebuffs he has suffered are a challenge to his hold in this area. The truth should by .now be appreciated in Washington that the United States has committed its arms so deeply here that it cannot afford to deny reinforcements, in support of what those arms have already achieved.” Flying Fortresses, lighting up their targets with flares, made many of

their attacking runs at “wave-top” height. The raid, lasting 30 minutes, was perhaps the most successful exploitation yet of the “skip” bombing tactics formulated and developed in this Command area, by which bombs are “skipped’ from a low level, into the hulls of ships, holing them at the waterline. Some of the Flying Fortresses were damaged by antiaircraft fire from the warships, but all returned to their base safely, and no member of the crews was injured. The warships manoeuvred violently in unsuccessful efforts to avoid the attacks. Captain Fred Wesche, of New Jersey, who sank a destroyer in a lone attack off Finschhafen a few days ago, got hom e the first direct hit which started the fire on the heavy cruiser. Japanese _ sailors were seen scurrying along the decks, making frantic efforts to put out the flames, but the succeeding attackers scored othei’ direct hits. One of the 5001 b bombs must have penetrated the powder magazine l because the ship blew up with a terrific explosion. The light cruiser sank within, a few minutes of four direct hits by "skip” bombing. Lieutenant William Humnehouse who sank the heavy destroyer with two direct hits flew so low that his plane nearly collided with a mast as the warship zig-zagged to escape the bombs which were throwing up huge waterspouts around it. “I made a head-on attack and at one stage it appeared as if a collision was inevitable,” the pilot said. “The Jap must have got a fright. He twisted When I wag almost on-tqp of him. There were only a few feet v between me and the masthead when I dropped my bombs.”

MacArthur's Initiative “WILL NOT SIT STILL” NEW YORK, April 4. The New York “Times’s”, correspondent at Washington says:— Military and naval circles believe that smashing blows are planned in the Pacific, possibly coinciding with or even preceding an eventual European offensive, However, the same circles would be greatlv surprised if the main Pacific show began before the' last act of the European drama was in sight. The most likely possibility for first blow seems to rest in General MacArthur’s domain. Indeed, it is safe to bet that MacArthur will not sit still, even if he cannot manage a - large-scale push against Rabaul. The other Japanese bases are tempting plums in his neighbourhood. No one in Washington expects an island-to-island campaign, however. These enemy bases have been greatly reinforced, and Japanese air strength has been increased recently. Therefore. General MacArthur cannot take too great Naval experts are not concealing the unfortunate fact that the United States find it difficult to spare enough air-craft-carriers for General MacArthur’s venture. The possibility is seen of a resumption of bombing of Tokio from China. It is believed this was part of the strategy recently discussed by the Pacific Service Chiefs in Washington.