Growing Importance Of Wewak As Jap. Base

Northern Advocate, 9 April 1943, Page 6

Growing Importance Of Wewak As Jap. Base

(Special) SYDNEY, This Day. The Japanese have pushed ahead with development of their base at Wewak until it is now one of the most important in the entire New Guinea zone. Attention has again been focussed on this base on the far north coast of the island about 350 miles north-west of Salamaua by a Liberator attack on the harbour, reported by General MacArthur's communique today. Apart from its grown" importance as an air base and as the eastern terminal for the new overland supply route to Lae and Salamaua via INfadang, Wewak is being developed to protect Japanese convoys moving into New Guinea waters from Rabat)], New Britain and Kavieng. New Ireland. Large-scale building

Our recent nil* reconnaissance reveals that the Japanese have constructed a larfil? aerodrome with many dispersal hays and blast pens for protection of their grounded aircraft aganst Allied attacks. Indications are that Wewak is now capable of supporting considerable air strength. One of the runways on the new aerodrome is reported to be a mile in length. In conjunction with the aerodrome, a large-scale programme of building construction is Being carried out and strong anti-aircraft defences have been established. Japanese ground troops in the area are being steadily reinforced. Beyond Fighter Range Wewak is beyond the range of effective fighter escort for Allied bombers and. in consequence so far has escaped the steady punishment meted out to Lae and Salamaua as our air blockade of these bases lias increased. Wewak is further from Allied bases than Rabaul and intervening high mountains add to the difficulties of regular bombing attacks. The country around Wewak is reported to lend itself to rapid airfield construction. The number of pre-war emergency landing fields were established on fiat land in the area. Our air reconnaissance reports that considerable use is being made by the enemy of the new coastal road between Wewak and Madang. The latter base has also been steadily strengthened during the past three months. MacArthur’s Communique General MacArthur’s communique states. — North-western sector: Dutch New Guinea, Babo: Our heavy units bombed an aerodrome and town causing explosions and fires. Fak Fak: One of our heavy units bombed the town. Tanimbar Islands. Saumlaki: One of our medium units bombed and strafed the town. Aroe Islands. Dobo: One of our medium units bombed a town in the north-eastern sector. New Ireland. Kavieng: One of our reconnaissance units strafed a small enemy coastal convoy consisting of a destroyer and two cargo vessels north-west of Kavieng. An escorting float-plane attempting interception was driven off and darrfaged. New Britain. Cape Gloucester: One of our heavy units bombed and strafed enemy planes caught on an aerodrome. New Guinea. Wewak: One of our heavy units at midday bombed the harbour. Saidor: Our medium bombers executed an intensive sweep along- the coast, bombing and strafing the villages of Mur, Savei, Fungair, Wilwilan, and Yantai. A succession of tires wore started. Finschhafen: Our heavy units bombed and strafed the town in two separate attacks. Lae: One of our heavy units bombed an aerodrome. Solomon Sea: One of our medi.um units attacked an enemy destroyer off the coast of Bougainville scoring near misses,