JAP WAR SHIPPING

Grey River Argus, 7 April 1943, Page 5

JAP WAR SHIPPING

JSTILL AT KAVIENG And No Reduction at Rabaul 'Aust. & N.Z- Cable Assn. l (Rec. 9.35) SYDNEY, April b. There is a Japanese light cruiser beached at Kavieng, in New Ireland, where a reconnaissance has been made after the recent • aerial battle in this area, which resulted in at least twelve enemy warships and merchantmen being sunk or damaged. The reconnaissance shows that some Japanese shipping remains in Kavieng harbour. This information was released to-day by the spokesman at General MacArthur’s Headquarters. It is thought that some of the ships that are remaining may be immobilised by damage from t'he bombing attacks. The spokesman was asked by war correspondents if the enemy shipping concentration at Kavieng could be inferred to imply that earlier neayy attacks on Rabaul, in New. Britain, had forced the enemy, to make, plans for the development of the port ot Kavieng, to relieve 1 pressure on Kabaul. , . The spokesman replied, however, that recent reconnaissance showed that the enemy’s shipping concentration at Rabaul has remained normal. There was no evidence of any reduction in the Japanese strength at that busy base. He added that the war and merchant shipping attacked at Kavieng had been entirely a new concentration, and it did not comprise any vessels moved from the Rabaul area.