JAP BASES BOMBED

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1943, Page 5

JAP BASES BOMBED

In Dutch New Guinea AND BISMARCK SEA. (Rec. 9.56.) SYDNEY, June 10. There was continued heavy weather throughout the South-west Pacific area on Wednesday. This limited the Allied air activity almost entirely to armed reconnaissance. Liberators, however, made damaging strikes against Nabire and Manokwari on the north coast of Dutch New Guinea, while Flying Fortresses bombed Unea Island, in the Vitu Group, in the Bismark Sea. Nabire, in Dutch New Guinea, has an airstrip and also small port facilties. It was attacked with fivehundred lb. bombs. General MacArthur’s communique says that a terrific explosion occurred when two large buildings, apparently, munitions warehouses, received direct hits. The attacking aircraft, flying at twelve thousand feet, were jarred, and resulting fires were visible for seventyfive miles. Huge columns of smoke rose eight thousand feet. Unea Island is a new objective for Allied air attack. The Japanese, it is believed, occupied this island only recently. In past weeks some buildings have been erected there. The enemy is possibly contemplating the construction of an airstrip there. Japanese ships have been observed irt the Vitu Group of islands from time to time. There is no fresh news of the New Guinea land fighting in the Mubo area.

A virtual stalemate has now continued in this area for a few weeks. Both sides are pushing out occasional patrols, but no heavy clashes have been reported.