U.S. NAVAL ATTACKS

Grey River Argus, 3 December 1943, Page 5

U.S. NAVAL ATTACKS

IN S.W. PACIFIC Gasmata, Madang and Sio [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] SYDNEY, Dec. 2. Allied light naval units, in the ■ deepest penetration yet recorded into the Bismarck Sea heavily bombarded Gasmata (New Britain) and Madang I (New Guinea'), important Japanese supply bases in this area. The attacks ; were made at night. The type of I warships which made these raids, whi-li involved a passage through waters previously dominated by, the I Japanese, nas not been officially revealed. However, they may have been destroyers. At Madang an enemy vessel was sunk. Earlier Allied bombers attacked nearby the Alexisheen aerodrome with 70 tons of explosives. (Rec. 8.45) SYDNEY. Dec. 2. The American light warships which bombarded Japanese bases at Gasmata . (Southern New Britain) and Madang (East New Guinea), probably were destroyers. Both attacks were made on Monday night. .General MacArthur’s headquarters says that the shellings were accurate and effective. Gasmata is two hundred air miles from Rabaul, and is the principal Japanese base on the south coast of New Britain Island. Madang is about 150 miles north-east of Finschhafen. It is one of the enemy’s largest remaining supply centres in New Guinea. It was reported yesterday that Allied warships had bombarded Sio. the Japanese barge base on the northern coast of the Huon Peninsula, and it now appears* likely that it was the same task force that struck at both Sio and Madang, which are about 100 miles apart. Madang is the farthest point on the New Guinea mainland to be attacked by Allied surface vessels. Besides shelling shore installations the warships sank a small enemy vessel. It has not been disclosed whether the task force which bombarded Sio and Madang then crossed 140 miles of the Bismark Sea to attack Gasmata, or whether this base was raided by a second force. Subsequent aerial reconnaissance has reported j heavy damage at Gasmata. Freer movement of Allied wardships in these waters has been made possible by the recent construction of advanced fighter strips on Trobri.and Island and Huon Peninsula, thus affording closer ail' protection. Liberator bombers struck a heavy blow at Alexishafen aerodrome, near Madang, prior to its bombardment by the warships. They dropped 70 tons of explosives on the aerodrome and supply dumps, areas. In the Bismark Sea Liberator bombers attacked an enemy convoy of two merchantmen, and two destroyers. One of the destroyers was probably damaged. An earlier communique reported: heavy damage to a Japanese cruisei' which was bombed near Kavieng, New Ireland. Two direct hits caused an exnlos’on and a' fire below decks. A second enemy light cruiser was probably damaged when it was attacked by "Allied bombers near Garove island in the Vitu Group off the coast of New Britain. Off Halmahera, Molucca Island, an 8500-ton Jananese freighter-trans-port was left, listing after two direct hits. An 8000-ton ship was yesterday reported to nave been sunk by bombs in the same area.

HUON PENINSULA

AUSTRALIANS STRENGTHEN HOLD (Rec. 8.50) SYDNEY, Dec. 2. On the Huon Peninsula, New 1 Guinea, the situation has gone increasingly in Allied favour, as theAustralians have consolidated their hold around Bonga and Wareo. Mitchell bombers and Airacobra fighters continue to provide them with valuable support by attacking enemy supoly trails and bivouac areas. In their latest sweeps 30 tons of bombs were dropped on selected targets. In this area an Australian force is reported to have wiped out an entire garrison, numbering 37, of an isolated Japanese strongpoint.