Bismarck Sea Battle a Massacre

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 57, 9 March 1943, Page 4

Bismarck Sea Battle a Massacre

SYDNEY, Mar. 8. “Estimated in terms of relative losses, the Battle of the Bismarck Sea was less a battle than a massacre,” declares tho Sydney Morning Herald, reviewing editorially the details of the fighting as revealed in General MacArthur's latest communique. Observers here have bceia particularly surprised at the number of Japanese fighters, given as 150, providing cover for the convoy. This imposing aorial screen was literally shot to pieces by the Allied aircraft. Of the 102 enemy planes shot out of action, at least 63 were destroyed for certain. For an air battle of such magnitude, the Allied air losses of four planes was amaziDgly small. “(Qualitatively the air command has passed to the Allies in the Southern I’acific,” adds the Sydney Morning Herald. “The Japaneso have no answer to our massive, hard-hitting, and skilfully handled laud-based aircraft. Inferiority iu this weapon, pre-eminently the great new weapon of this war, will doom them to inferiority at sea as well, wherever our long-range bombers ana fighters can reach.” The paper goes on to emphasise that quantity of aircraft is no less important than quality, and declares the Southern I’acific will need many more planes if early aud full advantage is to be taken of the staggering reverse just inflicted on Japan.