CHECK TO ENEMY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 98, 25 March 1942, Page 5

CHECK TO ENEMY

NEW GUINEA DEFENCES HEAVY JAPANESE LOSSES. (United Press Association—Copyright.) CANBERRA, March 24. Port Moresby had its eighteenth enemy air raid to-day.. Two waves of Japanese bombers accompanied by fighters attacked the aerodrome also targets near the town. Neither damage nor casualties were reported.

One enemy pla.ne was damaged and ■would probably not roach its base. A London report says that two raids were made on Port Moresby, one confuting of more than 50 bombers. Altogether 30 tons of bombs were dropped.

Ip the last two days about 300 bombs have been dropped on t.hc settlement, but there is only slight damage and not a single casualty has been caused. A correspondent in the New Guinea area, reporting on the .Japanese raid on Port Moresby on Monday, says the destruction of enemy aircraft is rapidly mounting.

The Allied score of enemy planes either destroyed or damaged is now 25. Of four modern Zero fighters which accompanied the enemy bombers over Port Moresby yesterday only one is likely to have got back to its base. On land, too, the Japanese have been halted with the situation in. Markham Valley under control, which means that the backdoor threat to Port Moresby is considerably lessened. The Australians in Markham Valley are reported to be carrying on the fight under conditions unparalleled in this war. They arc more like bushrangers than soldiers, living in secret hide-outs and adding to their rations! tresh meat and vegetables brought in j by loyal natives, who ignored the i blandishments of the Lutheran mis-1 sionaries to turn pro-Japanese. The defence of Markham Valley is part of an elaborate plan to prevent the Japanese moving from Lac, Salamaua and Finsehhafen to areas where they are expected to threaten Port Moresby. In the deep valleys and high mountains, in swamps and jungles groups of soldiers are keeping constant watch for any sign of Japanese penetration.

Batches of Australian pilots are attached to various American air squadrons now operating in the Australian theatre of war, the Air Minister announced to-day. After serving a certain period with the Americans the Australians will be transferred back to Australian squadrons. The object the Minister added, is to familiarise the Australians with the faster American planes. Australians are also serving with Americans at the battle stations.

All locality signs deemed to bo visible from low-flying aircraft arc being removed from railway stations within the metropolitan area of Sydney, and. all signs are being removed from stations outside the metropolitan area lip to a radius from Sydney of 100 miles.

Hotel trading hours in New South Vales will lx: changed to-morrow and will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. They were previously G a.m. to 6 p.m! Announcing this the Premier (Mr McKell) said the reduction in trading hours was rendered imperative by the critical times and dangers facing the country.

A Canberra report says that in the raid yesterday on Wyndbam, in Western Australia, 30 bombs were dropped, causing slight damage. The only casualty was a serviceman, whose knee was injured b.v a flying stone. An hour later Japanese fighters machinegunned the aerodrome without result. A communique dealing with last Sunday's attempted raid on Darwin discloses that neither damage nor casualties occurred. The enemy lost one plane and probably another.