War In New Guinea

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1943, Page 3

War In New Guinea

(Special) SYDNEY. This Day. Nineteen Japanese fighters were destroyed and 11 more prooably destroyed in another smashing Allied air victory over New Guinea yesterday. Only two Allied planes, were lost, one of the pilots being saved. Lightning fighters which scored this notable success were escorting a large formation of Mitchell bombers making low-altitude attacks on Madang aerodrome buildings and enemy-occupied areas. They were intercepted by a Japanese twin-engined bomber force escorted by more than 20 Zeros The Allied raid cn Madang followed the blasting of supply dumps in the area on Tuesday with 30 tons of high-explosives. It is now reported that in Tuesday’s raid a span of the Golgo River bridge, on the coastal highway between Madang and Lae. was destroyed. Two other brid?es were also attacked. Allied troops still "hold the slopes of Mount. Tambu. near Kc.miatum, despite further determined Japanese counter-attacks. Enemy Loses Heavily The enemy have sustained 282 known casualties in assaults against our positions. At. least 1C such enemy counterattacks have now been made since July 16. In the Euin Gap Valley, on the jungle trail to Kcmiatum supply base, SCO fresh Japanese graves have been discovered. Tne bodies are probably those of troops killed in Allied air attacks which preceded the capture of Mubo. G'rher raids in New Guinea yesterday were on Finschhafen and Lae, where Marauders bombed and, strafed barges and the jetty area near Voco Point. Nine enemy bombers with fighter escort made an afternoon raid on Buloio, but no damage is reported.