NEW GUINEA ATTACKED

Kaikoura Star, Volume LXII, Issue 23, 23 March 1942, Page 3

NEW GUINEA ATTACKED

ATTACKED BY U.S.A. AND AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCES. TWENTY-THREE JAPANESE SLNK OR DAMAGED. WASHINGTON, March 18. The United States Navy Department has announced that a Japanese invasion force concentrated near Salamaua and Lae, in New Guinea, has been smashed by the United States and Australian Air Forces. Twenty-three Japanese ships were sunk or damaged, including 12 warships. Details are lacking of this crushing aerial assault. The American and Australian bombers are given credit for a victory which cost them onlv one aeroplane. Early reports of the enemy casualties are:— Warships believed sunk: Two heavy cruisers and one light cruiser. ' Warships severely damaged: One cruiser and four destroyers. , Vessels gutted by fire and beached: I Five transports or large cargo ships. i Vessels sunk or damaged: Many small craft, including a minesweeper, an aircraft tender, and two gunboats. The minesweeper and also a gunboat were in flames when the attackers left. Three enemy seaplanes were shot down and considerable damage was done to anti-aircraft batteries and runways. A direct hit on a Japanese heavy cruiser was scored by Allied aircraft raiding Rabaul, in New Britain, yesterday. It was the ninth enemy warship, and the twenty-sixth ship, sunk or damaged in recent operations in enemy waters. A com mu nine issued in Canberra by the Australian Prime Minister (Mr ,t. Curtin) says that the Japanese cruiser was hit astern, and a column of smoke rose from her. Near misses were scored on two other large vessels.

JAPANESE ADVANCING UP THE MARKHAM VALLEY. CANBERRA, March 19. Advice has been received from New Guinea that considerable forces of Japanese are advancing up the Markham Valley from Lae. It is believed that they will soon make contact with the Australians. Markham Valley is about 200 miles to the north-west of Port Moresby. The enemy is rapidly coming into a position where it will be possible to send over small parties to Port Moresby, but these will be vulnerable. It is also obvious that the enemy is seeking aerodromes in the Markham Valley. A further communique issued tonight stated that the Japanese again bombed Port Moresby to-day. The raid, which was carried out by a medium force, was directed at harbour installations. About 40 bcunbs wore dropped. No casualties arc reported and no damThe Australian Air Minister (Mr A. S. Drakeford) has received no details qf the Allied air raid on Japanese ships off Salamaua.