TEN JAP. TRANSPORTS SUNK

Grey River Argus, 1 December 1944, Page 5

TEN JAP. TRANSPORTS SUNK

With 4,000 Troops AND THREE DESTROYERS. [Aust. & NZ. Press Association! WASHINGTON, Nov 29 General MacArthur announced that American fighter planes destroyed thirteen ships, including eight transports, bound for Leyte. The Japanese loss is estimated at four thousand troops killed or drowned. (Rec. 5.5.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 29. General MacArthur in his latest communique on Wednesday states: — The enemy continues to make desperate efforts to reinforce and supply his troops a Ormoc. The communique continues: In a two-day and night battle, our fighters have destroyed three large cargo transports and seven _ troop transports and three escorting destroyers. Enemy ’planes unsuccessfully attempted to cover these ships. Seven 'planes were shot down. . The seven troop transports and one of •the cargo transports were sunk well out at sea. Their troops are estimated at four thousand. They were lost. The two other cargo vessels made port. They were partially unloaded before being destroyed. _ It is probable that another reinforcing Japanese division is being brought in, as prisoners stated that they had been told that a second Japanese infantry division is expected This is the sixth convoy to have been destroyed. The enemy’s losses at sea in his ifcinforcement attempts total 26,000 men, and 26,000 transports, aggregating 92,750 tons, and 17 escort vessels. WASHINGTON, Nov 30 A correspondent aboard a carrier in the Western Pacific says:—Lieutenant Cecil Harris, a former farm boy, of South Dakota, shot down four Japanese planes in one day lor the third time, making his tally twenty-four. Harris, is now the Navy’s leading ace.

Bombing Stepped Up BY AMERICAN PLANES. ON WEST AND SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC ISLANDS. [Aust. & N.Z. Press Association] (Rec. 9.30). WASHINGTON. Nov. 29. General MacArthur, in a communique, stated: Patrol planes damapeu '.-mall shipping in the Visayas, Camotes, and Sibuyan S'eas. They attacked aerodromes and shipping in Celebes. Heavy units cratered the runway on Davao aerodrome. Medium units harassed installations on Halmahera, and bombed Haroekoe, Kaiatoe, and Halong in the Amboine and Ceram area, and destroyed small shipping in the Flores and Alor Islands, and the lesser Sundas. Patrol planes struck at Timor. Kai and Banda Islands. Attack bombers hit Sagan aerodrome, Southern Vogelkop. New Guinea, and bombed offshore islands at Wewak. and occupied villages in the Torricelli Mountains. Heavv and medium units based in New Guinea dropped 52 tons of bombs on aerodromes and supply facilities at Gunakanau and Tobera in the Rab'aul area.

The Pacific Fleet communique on Monday says: Army Liberators, escorted ’b” Lightnings, dropped 112 tons of bombs on two airstrips on Iwojima Island. Our fighters shot down two intercepting planes. Liberate* s on Monday dropped 53 tons of bombs on airstrips on Iwojima, causing fires and explosions. Corsairs and Liberators bombed enemvheld bases and set fire to buildings on Ba'helUaup. Fires were started at Arakabesan. On Monday Corsairs and Venturas bombed fuel storage tanks and a power plant on Nauru Island. A large fire was started and an explosion occurred.