CLASHES NEAR MURO

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1943, Page 5

CLASHES NEAR MURO

JAPANESE DRIVEN BACK

Daylight Raid at Gasmata

OTHER BASES ALSO BOMBED [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 10.35) SYDNEY, May 14. Japanese patrols have been worsted in the latest clashes between opposing ground forces near Mubo and Komiatum in Northern New Guinea. These are reported in General MacArthur’s communique to-day. The enemy suffered sixty casualties in the fighting on Lababia Ridge, east of Mubo, and have been driven back to their original positions on Green’s Hill. Another party of about eighty Japanese, moving inland about a mile north of Komiatum, were ambushed and left 35 dead behind them. Many more were wounded. Daring daylight raids were made on Thursday on the Japanese base of Gasmata in New Britain. Mitchell medium bombers, Flying Fortresses and Beaufighters bombed and strafed the aerodrome and waterfront. Three enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Mitchells made the initial attacks and were followed immediately by Beaufighters in low-level strafing sweeps. Meanwhile other Flying Fortresses bombed the Lakunai and Vunakanau aerodromes at Rabaul in attacks before dawn. The results of these raids are not reported. Other Allied bombers on offensive reconnaissance on Thursday bombed Lorengau, in the Admiralty Islands, Cape Gloucester in New Britain, and Finshhafen and Bogodkim on the north New Guinea coast. Bogodkim lies about 12 miles southward of Madang. Early on Thursday night two Japanese planes raided Port Moresby but the six bombs they dropped fell harmlessly in the bush.

U.S. AIR ACTIVITY. RUGBY, May 13. A. United States Naw communique announces the names of the Allied naval vessels sunk by air attack near Guadalcanar on Anrii 7. as United States destroyer Aaron, war tanker U.S.S. Kanawha, and the New Zealand corvette Moa. It adds: “On Mav 11, a force of Army Mitchells attacked Japanese installations at Kiska, droppm.r bombs on the runway and the main camp area.. “On the morning of May 12, Fortresses bombed Japanese positions off Ballale Island in the Shortland Island area, starting a large fire. Other Fortresses attacked Kahili in the Shortland Island area starting a number of fires which appeared to be burning enemy aircraft. Later in the morning, Dauntlesses and Avengers, escorted by Warfiawks and Corsairs,' attacked the Japanese installations at Munda, New Georgia On the night of May 12/13, light surface units bombarded Japanese positions at Vila and Muna.

WAR PRISONERS IN JAPAN. MELBOURNE, May; 14. In conjunction with Britain, other Dominions, and Allied nations, Australia is making the strongest protest t 0 Japan through the protecting power, over the failure of Japan to furnish information about war prisoners. Although Australian prisoners have been in Japanese hands tor fifteen months, the international Red Cross has received only the names ot 3000 Australians, officially issued Dy the Japanese.

HALSEY BACK AT BASE. NEW YORK, May 13. The Commander in the South Pacific area, Admiral Halsey, has returned to an advanced South Pacific base, after conferring with the Com-mander-in-Chief in the South-west Pacific, General MacArthur. Observers agree that the comeience may, herald a new phase in the Pacific war.