SOUTH PACIFIC

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1943, Page 5

SOUTH PACIFIC

AIR SUCCESSES • JAP RAIDERS REPULSED. MILLINGIMBI ATTACK. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rev. 9.5) SYDNEY, May 11. Five Spitfires and one Beaufighter shot of action three out of nine Japanese fighters, which made a fresh attack on a new Allied airstrip at Millingimbi Island, three hundred miles east of Darwin on Monday morning. They damaged two others. One Spitfire was lost, but the pilot is safe-. The enemy attack on Millingimbi is reported in General MacArthur s communique to-day. The Spitfires were forced to go into action while actually making height, putting them under a great disadvantage, so that their performance in driving off raiders is regarded as a distinct achievement. Only, slight damage was caused when the’airstrip was strafed by Zeros. A few hours later three Zeros ineffectually attacked an Allied convoy off the'coast in the same area, they were driven off by ships’ anti-aircraft fire. One Zero was damaged. In a daring night sweep on Babo, an important enemy base in Dutch New Guinea, Catalinas bombed the wharf and aerodrome areas to such good effect that on the airfield alone twenty separate fires, believed to oe blazing planes, were caused. Fires started when oil tanks were hit, were visible eighty miles away. One erplosion shook the Catalinas flying at six thousand feet. The damage is believed to have been considerable. On the way home after a long round trip flight from their base Catalinas strafed an enemy base at Dobo and a coastal vessel off Kaimana. To-day’s communique from the South-west Pacific Headquarters also reports a number of attacks by our heavy bombers on armed reconnaissance vessels? Four Japanese planes raided Allied positions at Milne Bay and Mappi Post in New Guinea, but did no damage.

Fighting at Mubo

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS’

EXPERIENCE.

(Special to N.Z. Press Assn ) (Rec. 10.30) SYDNEY, May 11. ■ Australian troops operating m Mubo area, northern New Guinea, are much more skilful jungle fighters than the Japanese. To date the Australians have soundly beaten the Japanese in every patrol skirmish that has taken place in the area. The latest of these, reported, m General MacArthur’s communique to-day, occurred when enemy forces attempted to attack our positions south of Green's Hill. They were repulsed, but the communique gives no further details of action. Considerable skirmishing has taken place in this area, “At least ten Japanese are killed for everv Australian,” declared one soldier, just returned from the sector. “The digger is now much better a bushman than the Japanese.” Australian patrols operating around Mubo travel light. No blankets are carried, and the men sleep in bitterly cold nights covered only by a ground sheet. One feature of the patrolling work, in which the Australians have become expert, is that of ambushes. The Japanese have thus been forced always to reconnoitre in strength. In three days during the past week about fifty J'apanese were killed in successful ambushes, and manv more were wounded. Skirmishing clashes are certain to become much more frequent now that the Australian occupation of Bobdubi offers a definite threat to the enemy’s supply line and to their forward troops around Mubo. The map shows that the Australians are within three air miles of the important enemy base of Salamaua, but no map conveys an adequate idea of thel terrain. “When the time comes for an offensive to be launched against this Japanese base,” writes a war correspondent from New Guinea, it will be the beginning of a campaign in which the country with its ridges, gorges, swamps and eight known streams will prevent any frontal attack. It will be fought on tougher ground than any of our troops saw in the Buna area.”

Flight Over Java THREE THOUSAND MILE TRIP DESCRIBED.

(Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 10. American-manned Liberator bombers operating from the Australian mainland, made a flight over Sourabaya, in Java, which was mentioned brieflj,’ a few weeks a'go. 'Some details 'of this longest reconnaissance flight ever made over enemy-occu-pieci territory in the South-west Pacific have now been released. The round trip was more than three thousand miles. Specially selected crews, which manned the planes had previously taken part in raids on distant enemy bases ranging from Buin in the Northern Solomons, to Kendari, and Celebes.

Telling the story of the flight over Sourabaya, the most important naval base in the Dutch East Indies, officers of giant four-engined bombers, said that they struck the chain of the Indies at Flores, west of Timor, and continued crossing enemy occupied islands to Bali, from which point they flew north-west of Sourabaya. For almost twentyf-four hours they had to battle against head winds. Extra fuel tanks had to be fitted for the journey, so the planes carried no bomb load.

“When we came over Sourabaya we must have taken the enemy by surprise,” said one pilot. “It was some time before the anti-aircraft guns opened up against us, but we were not bothered by the fire.”

The results of the reconnaissance have not been revealed.

MITCHELL BOMBER’S COLORFUL HISTORY.

SYDNEY, May 11. Few aircraft in the war have a more colourful history than the “Mortimer,” a Mitchell medium bomber on service with the American forces in the South-west Pacific. “Mortimer,” who took a hand in the sinking of two Japanese, ships off Madang during the week-end. was originally flown in combat in the Java campaign. With other aircraft he came to Australia. After the fall of Batavia, later participating in a spectacular raid on th e Philippines. He was the first medium bomber ever to make the round trip from Australia. In the Coral Sea battle “Mortimer” sank a destroyer and a cargo ship. He has shot down several Zeros, and his vigour is undiminished with age. Pie still takes part in all actions. “I would not trad e him for the newest plane in New Guinea,” says his proud pilot. “Old ‘Mortimer’ is still the fastest and most dependable plane in our outfit.” “Mortimer’s” fame has spread to the United States, where manufacturers feature his picture in their advertisements.

PAPUANS AND WAR LOAN. SYDNEY, May 11. Natives living 300 miles from Port

Moresby have written to a General near their area seeking an opportunity to subscribe to Australian war loans. The letter reads: “We heard w r - Curtin appealing for the Third Liberty Loan. We feel that such loans must not be raised by the people of Australia alone, but by Papuans as well. We are grateful for the sacrifices of the Australians in defending our land. There are many natives who would be willing to lend their wages if it could be arranged by the plantation managers. At present a lot of money is wasted on gambling which could be used for the war.”