Last of Jap Convoy Wiped Out

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 56, 8 March 1943, Page 5

Last of Jap Convoy Wiped Out

102 Enemy Planes Shot Out of Action (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Sunday, 9.35 p.m. SYDNEY, Mar. 7. The last of the Japanese from the annihilated Bismarck Sea convoy has been systematically wiped out. Fifty barges, lifeboats and rafts believed to be all that remained afloat from the convoy were raked by Allied planes cn Friday. General MacArthur’s Headquarters announces that mopping-up has been completed and so far as is known there is scarcely a survivor.

Giving details of the battle, to-day’s communique says that 136 Allied aircraft (bombers, attack bombers and fighters) took part in the attacks against the 22 enemy ships which had an air cover of about 150 planes. Of these no fewer than 102 were shot out of action. Our losses for the whole action were one heavy bomber and three fighters lost with other aircraft damaged but returned to their bases. Our planes dropped 226 tons of bombs on the convoy, scoring eight certain direct hits and 63 near misses or hits. All 12 transports with their warship escort of three little cruisers and seven destroyers were sunk.

It is estimated that 15,000 enemy troops were killed. They came from the 20th and 51st Divisions together with certain specialised units.

Throughout Friday Mitchell medium bombers and long-range Beaufighters swept the waters of Huon Gulf, relentlessly destroying everything afloat. Parties of more than a hundred Japanese desperately striving to reach land perished to a man. Indicative of the thoroughness with which our aircraft carried out their task were two radio messages from an attacking plane. The first said: “Sighted three boats containing 200 Japanese. " The second added: “There were no survivors.** At least some of the enemy soldiers wore jungle gTeen battledress.

All reports confirm that the Japanese ships were heavily laden with stores as well as troops and that they carried big deck cargoes. In addition landing barges and light rafts were on the decks of the transports. The enemy warships carried logs bound together. Apparently these logs were to have been used to assist in the landings.

American war correspondents in this theatre are warning the United States against the assumption that the destruction of the convoy shows that General MacArthur has ample aircraft. The New York Times* correspondent says the Allied Air Forces in Australia ‘are nothing like the big fleet some American commentators credit General MacArthur with having under his command. His air chief, Lieut.-General Kenny, could use many more planes—and evidently with very good effect. The famous American war news analyst, Raymond Gram Swing, says the annihilation of the convoy has not proved the impossibility of an enemy invasion of Australia but it has proved that any invasion attempt would be ruinously costly. PART OF PLAN TO INVADE AUSTRALIA Many American commentators believe that the Bismarck Sea convoy wag part of a planned series of Japanese moves having the direct invasion of Australia as their ultimate aim. But whatever basis for this conjecture there is unlikely to be any confirmation from the Japanese who have not mentioned the disastrous battle in any news broadcasts. 4 4 The Japanese weather man has probably committed harakin by now," commented a senior Allied Air Corps officer discussing the factors contributing to the obliteration of the enemy armada. 4 ‘Although flying conditions were far from perfect for a great part of our air operations, a heavy storm being used for the convoy as a protective cover, yet this did not extend as far south as was evidently expected. Our aircraft were able to find holes in the clouds through which to make their strikes." “Japan was going ahead with plans to invade Australia when her 22 ships in convoy met disaster in the Bismarck Sea," declares Admiral Yates Stirling, former Chief of the United States Naval Staff. “The Allied victory has greatly delayed Japan’s time-table and possibly stalled it for ever." Admiral Stirling gives several reasons for his belief that Japan was developing plans for the invasion of Australia. These include: — (1) For tho first time Japan appears to have advanced as far as she can elsewhere. Her foothold in the Aleutians is weakening. The British have the initiative in Burma while the Chinese fronts are holding. (2) She has available millions of troops and over 7,500,000 tons of shipping (as much as the United Nations used in invading Africa) to throw into the effort.

(3) She has built a powerful ring of air bases in the islands around North Australia despite frequent attacks by MacArthur’s bombing and strafing planes.

COMPLETE VICTORY OF SUPPLY The American Associated Press military commentator, Clark Lee, says the Bismarck Sea battle was not only a superb performance by Allied airmen but also a victory of supply because all the equipment used in smashing the Japanese had to be transported from the United States to Australia by ship. He adds: “The fact that most of the American convoys readied their Pacific destinations unmolested by submarines is one of the big mysteries of the war. In marked contrast to Germany’s tactics Japanese submarines in tbe Pacific have been active mainly as naval auxiliaries, never seriously molesting our convoys." “The annihilation of the Japanese in Huon Gulf was a fitting counter-stroke to the sinking of the Price of Wales and Repulse," declares the London Sunday Times, war commentator, “Scrutator.” He emphasises that the episode illustrates the extent to which tie control of the sea has passed from surface warships to landbased aircraft In waters where the latter can operate. “The Japanese were the first, Power to grasp the full implications of air power’s control of the sea," he writes. “Their strategy in this regard has been admirable. Fortunately their equipment does not equal their strategy. Their aircraft are now completely outclassed. Their army too has Inadequate mechanisation. It ha 3 been exceptionally well trained for jungle fighting but on ordinary terrain would be swamped by tanks and aircraft. “Such terrain occurs in Java .and the

Philippines," adds the commentator, expressing the belief that MacArthur's strategy is directed towards the Philippines.” The approach will be a matter of planes blasting the Japanese out of their intermediate bases,” “Scrutar tor” says. “Until recently tbe Allies had insufficient planes to start the process which has now begun and will gather momentum as it proceeds through the increasing destruction of Japanese craft." (British Official Wireless) Received Sunday, 9.30 p.m. RUGBY, Mar. 6. A United States Navy communique states: “American aircraft bombed the Japanese positions at Munda and Buin on Friday. On Friday night a task force composed of light surface units bombarded the Japanese positions at Villa and Munda. Light Japanese surface forces attempted to drive off the bombardment group and two large enemy destroyers were sunk during the engagement. No American vessels were lost. “The successful completion of the mission of the American task force in the South Pacific now makes possible the following announcement:‘A formation of seven Japanese torpedo planes on February 17 located and launched an attack against a task force. Five enemy planes were shot down. No damage was suffered by American vessels.’ "