Japanese Warship Hits Reef

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 48, 26 February 1943, Page 5

Japanese Warship Hits Reef

Big Transport Bombed at Rabaul (By Telegraph-—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondeifc.) Received Thursday, 9 p.m. SYuftEx, Feo. 25. A large Japanese warship, in a ucsperate euorc to uoage oouius, nas crashed into a reef at tne soutnem enu of Raoaui Earqour. ax lease seven enemy vessels including outer warsnips, were attached m the wateis around j*ew Britain and Eew lreianu oy General MacAruiur s oomoers on wednesuay. wnen last seen tne iarg~ v/arsmp, which nas not oeen ideniineu, was stationery on the reei. xts rate is ummown. Fortresses maintained tne hammering of the newest concentration of enemy warships aim transports in Rabaul haroour. in low altitude attacks with 5001 b. bom os, they scored a direct hit on a 10,000-ton merchantman. Two small warships zig-zagging to escape, were damaged by heavy bombs exploding within 20 feet. Such close misses oiten prove more destructive than direct hits, the bombs having a torpedo effect in smashing a ship’s plates below the waterline. No enemy air interception was encountered and all our bombers returned. Off Cape St. George, the most southerly point of New Ireland, Liberators attacked a destroyer and merchant vessel but preliminary reports do not give the results. Liberators have again won distinction with an epic performance against enemy fighters. Over an open bay in New Britain, a long bomber on reconnaissance was attacked by 13 Zeros. The air battle ended after four Zeros had been shot down into the sea. Heavy Allied air attacks continue on Japanese-occupied villages in the Lae, Mubo and Waria areas of Northern New Guinea, Thousand-pound bombs have caused terrific destruction among the flimsy native-built hutments. Malshang aerodrome and installations at Lae and the villages of Angari and Yanga, both within two miles of the enemy main New Guinea base, all felt the weight of our latest bombing attacks. Havoc attack planes made 18 sweeps along the Mubo-Komiatum trail by which supplies are moved up to the Japanese forward defences near Mubo. No further reports have been made c ground activity in this area. In all 10 enemy occupied areas north and northwest of Australia, have been attacked by Allied aircraft in the past 24 hours.