NEW GUINEA BASES

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1944, Page 5

NEW GUINEA BASES

MAIN ALLIED TARGETS In Latest Air Raids (Special to N.Z. Press Assn; (Rec. 10.15) SYDNEY, March 15. The Japanese attempts to defend Wewak have cost them 52 fighters, which were destroyed in three days. Thirteen more were probably destroyed. From Saturday to Monday Allied bombers, with strong fighter escorts, battered Wewak with .almost 500 tons of bombs. Under this mounting Allied' aerial assault there has been a significant decline in the enemy’s resistance at Wewak. On Saturday, as reported earlier, forty Japanese fighters opposed a raiding force, twenty-six being shot down. Six probably were shot down. On Sunday eighteen enemy interceptors were destroyed, and six probably destroyed. On Monday eignt were destroyed and probably a ninth. Monday’s raid was the heaviest yet made on Wewak. More than a hundred Liberators, Mitchells and Bostons dropped 210 tons of bombs. ‘ Many large fires and explosions indicated severe damage in buildings and supply areas. Est orting Thunderbolts dealt -with twenty-five Zeros, which came up to meet the raiders. Four of the Allied planes, were lost in these attacks on Wewak.

Another heavy blow against shipping in Hollandia. Dutch New Guinea, is further evidence that the main weight of the Allied air offensive in the South-west Pacific is now being turned against Japanese bases in New Guinea. A convoy of three 1000-ton cargo ships was surprised there, two of the vessels being sunk, and the third drivein ashore on a reef. Catalina flyingboats inflicted these losses. Rabaul was twice raided on Sunday. Following a night harassing attack, escorted heavy medium bombers made a mid-day sweep over the base. They dropped 120 tons of bombs on the township, the waterfront and Rapopo airfield, causing explosions and fires. For the first time in several days Japanese fighter planes opposed the raiders. Five and possibly six,were shot down by the accompanying Allied fighters. ’ Wooden bullets and fire crackers were among weapons used by Japanese troops in their costly attempt to drive the American forces from their beach-head at Empress Augusta Bav in Bougainville. The number of 'enemv killed in three days’ fightington the beach-head perimeter exceeded 1000. A lull has now occurred in the fighting at the perimeter. Crude wooden bullets, fashioned from jungle woods, were used by Japanese' snipers who infiltrated into American positions. For ranges up to one hundred years, the wooden bullets proved fairly accurate. War correspondent in the area reported that an examination of the Japanese killed in their desperate assaults against the American positions shows the enemy troops still to be well fed and well equipped. They however, are cut off from further supplies. On Willaume Peninsula. New Britain, Japanese forces isolated by a recent landing of U.S. Marines are being systematically destroyed, General MacArthur’s communique to-day reports the killing in patrol clashes of 55 enemy stragglers. In the Admiralty Islands the Americans have now cleared Hauwe 1 and Butjolou Islands of enemy opposition.