Incessant Raids on Jap Concentrations

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 25, 30 January 1943, Page 5

Incessant Raids on Jap Concentrations

Allied Planes Keep Up Pressure

fßy Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Friday, 10.40 p.m. SYDNEY, uan. 29.

Allied bombers on xnoisaay maintained tneir incessant narrassing oi tne iOiimdaoie iorces wmen uapau is rei>ortea to be assembling north and norm-east oi Australia. Again tney araackeu enemy oases ana snipping aiong the ibOO-miie arc irom Timor to .Britain. xmemy-occupied islands north of Darwin were attacked for the' seventn time in as many days. The important oap naval centre at Ambon was also raided, shipping being attacked in a new hideout at Binnene Bay. One of five intercepting Zeros was shot down. The increased Jap raids on the Allie New Guinea bases at Milne Bay, Port' Moresby and Merauke which have become regular targets for the enemy combined with the strengthened fighter interception show that the Japs are building up a powerful air force around their defensive arc. The new Jap airfield at Fuiloro and other enemy installations on Timor were heavily stafed by Beaufighters which also attacks j enemy float planes on the water a | Dobo on Aru Island. One float plane was destroyed. At the western end of the enemy’s defensive arc in New Britain shipping* was attacked at the north-eastern en of the island. At Open and Wide Bays, on the north and south sides of the island’s northern isthmus respectively. Liberators caused damage to small enemy vessels. Liberators also bombed the airfield at Cape Glouster while Catalinas attacked Gasmata airfield. In Northern New Guinea Wewak was attacked by Flying Fortresses, several! buildings being demolished near the airfield. Liberators bombed Finsch- j hafen and Havocs made sweeps over enemy positions near Mubo. | A light enemy raid on Merauke (Dutch New Guinea) caused no damage. I Commenting on the official news of. heavy Jap shipping, plane and troop | concentrations north of Australia, the Sydney Sun to-day says editorially: 1 “These enemy moves may be taken either as preparation foi; an immediate I offensive against Australia or lon-! range fortification against the Allied! war to come. It would be wiser to re-J gard them as an immediate danger. The ‘ Government should release as much in-| formation as security will permit of enemy preparations and actions close | to Australia so that the people will not be lefft in any doubt about the imminence of the danger.”