NINE JAP SHIPS SUNK

Grey River Argus, 14 August 1944, Page 5

NINE JAP SHIPS SUNK

MACARTHUR’S BOMBERS

Also Destroy 40 Planes

(Special to N.Z. Press Assn?. (Rec. 7.30.) SYDNEY, August 13. Powerful blows against the Japanese strongholds in Halmahera (Japanese islana, between New Guinea and the Philippines) and the Dutch New Guinea area were reported by General MacArthur’s "week-end communique. They included the sinking of nine snips ranging up to 2,000 tons, damaging of several others, and the destruction of about 40 ’planes at Halamahera. The Halamahera, Dutcn New Guinea and Philippines have been the target for sustained raids made last Wednesday and Thursday. The enemy shipping losses at Halamahera in the two-day strike were: Sunk: One 2,000-ton freighter, three 1,000-ton freighters, and many small craft. Seriously damaged, or lett sinking: One 3,000-ton, and two 2,000ton freighters. Ten seaplanes (caught at their moorings) were sunk, and 31 parked aircraft on Galela airfield were either destroyed or seriously damaged. At Vogelkop (Western Dutch New Guinea). Allied attack ’planes in a co-ordinated sweep with naval patrols sank three 1,000-ton freighters and seriously damaged the fourth, and destroyed or seriously damaged live smaller vessels and eight barges. These attacks cost the Allies two ’planes. One phot was rescued. Halamahera has major importance for the Japanese since it guards, tne approaches to the Philippines from the South-west Pacific. In spite of heavy destruction of grounded aircraft, General MacArthur’s week-end communiques made no mention of an enemy fighter defence, which has been absent since forty-five Japanese ’planes were lost in the first big Allied strike at the island on July 22. This absence of interception suggests the enemy has been attempting to conserve his dwindling air reserve at any price. South-west. Pacific aircraft have also been over the Philippines. For the fourth time in a week they macle a night bombing attack on Davoa, or Mindanao Island, concentrating on the waterfront area. They also damaged a 2,000-ton freighter at Talaud Islands, between Halmahera and the Philippines. . Groups of Japanese have committed suicide by exploding grenades strapped to their waists, following their •failure to break through American lines at Aitape. British New Guinea. After failure of their determined assaults, large numbers of enemy resorted. to this method of self-destruction. The number of counted dead in this area lias now soared to about nine thousand Many other bodies have yet to be counted. The Japanese surrender rate is showing some increase as enemy troons realise the hopelessness of their position. To-day’s South-west Pacific communique reports the killing of an additional 1,057, and the caplure of eighteen enemy troops m final mopping up operations now in progress. On Biak Island, Dutch New Guinea, the Japanese death roll has reached 4.161. Another eightyfive prisoners, have been taken. A. ceremonial parade of five hundred Japanese on Samate airfield near Sorong. Western Dutch New Guinea, was’rudely interrupted last Thursday by two R.A.A.F. Beaufightors. which swept the field with cannon and ma-chine-gun fire, killing a large number of the surprised enemy.