Three Cruisers, Seven Destroyers Sunk In Convoy

Northern Advocate, 8 March 1943, Page 4

Three Cruisers, Seven Destroyers Sunk In Convoy

Special)

SYDNEY, This Day

The last 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 on Friday.

General MacArlhur’s headquarters announces that mopping-up has been completed and, so far as is known, there was scarcely a survivor. Giving details of the battle, today’s communique says the 136 Allied aircraft (bombers, attack-bombers and fighters) took part in the attacks against 22 enemy ships which had 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.

Everything Afloat Our planes dropped 226 tons of bombs on the convoy, scoring 80 certain direct hits and 63 near misses or hits All 12 transports with their warshipping escort of three little cruisers and seven destroyers were sunk. It is estimated that 15.000 of the enemy troops killed 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 the Huon Gulf, relentlessly destroying everything afloat. “There Were No Survivors” Parties of more than 100 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-green battle dress. 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 to landing barges and light rafts on the decks of the transports, enemy warships carried logs bound together. Apparently these logs were to have been used to assist landings. More Planes Required American war correspondents in this theatre are warning the United States against the assumption that destruction of the convoy shows that General MacArthur has ample aircraft. The “New York Times” correspondent says that Allied air forces in Australia are nothing like the big fleet some American commentators credit General MaeArtluir with having under his command. His air chief (LieutenantGeneral Kenny) could use many more planes—and evidently with good effect. A Washington message quotes an American air force general as saying that with more than seven per cent, of the United States monthly plane output he would guarantee to blast a way right to Tokio. Complacency Australia’s Worry

In Australia, Federal Ministers emphasise that victory in the Bismarck Sea does not necessarily mean security in the Southern Pacific. “Our iworry today is that people are too inclined to complacency,” declared the Minister for Shipping and Supply (Mr. Beasley) who said that the safer Australians felt the more reluctant they were to stand up to their responsibilities. Warning that the enemy would make new attacks, Mr. Beasley added that if the war ended tomorrow with the Japanese still in possession of occupied islands, peace would be merely a respite with an inevitable now war in 20 years cr sooner.

The famous American war news analyst (Mr. Raymond Gram Swings) says that annihilation of the convoy lias proved the impossibility of an enemy invasion of Australia, but it has proved that any invasion attempt would be ruinously costly.

Many American commentators believe that’ the Bismarck Sea convoy was part of a planned series of Japanese moves having direct invasion of Australia as their ultimate aim. But whatever basis for this conjecture, there is not likely to be any confirmation from the Japanese who have not mentioned the disastrous battle in any news broadcasts.

Weather Prophet Failed

“The Japanese weatherman has probably hara kiried by now.’’ commented a senior Allied air corps officer, discussing factors contributing to the obliteration of the enemy armada. “Although flying conditions were far from perfect for the great part of our air operations, the heavy storm being used by the convoy as a protective cover 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.”