20 Japanese Freighters Sunk in Past Fortnight

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 207, 1 September 1944, Page 5

20 Japanese Freighters Sunk in Past Fortnight

(Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Thursday, 10 pjn. SYDNEY, Aug. SI. Three Japanese freighters were sunk and a 7000-ton transport seriously damaged hy Allied bombers in the Southwest Pacific on Tuesday. MacArthur’s tightening air blockade has resulted in the loss of 20 enemy freighters in the past fortnight. The attacks reported to-day reached out to Mindanao (Philippines) where United States Navy Liberators sank a 1000-ton freighter and a smaller vessel. Catalinas scored two direct hits on a 7000-ton transport in Manado harbour (Celebes), leaving the vessel listing heavily in shallow water. Dutch-manned Mitchells sank two cargo ships, one of 800 tons, in the Kai Islands while R.A.A.F. Bostons and Beaufighters searching the Ceram coast sank or severely damaged a small freighter and seven luggers. The heaviest Allied air raid recorded on Tuesday was an attack on Halmahera, the enemy base between New Guinea and the Philippines. More than 100 tons of bombs were dropped, damaging stores, bivouacs and oth(»: nflitary installations.

Harassing raids on the escape routes of the Japanese Second Army on Vogelkop Peninsula (Dutch New Guinea) resulted in the sinking of flve loaded barges. Enemy troops from this area may be attempting to escape by sea to the Kai Islands.