7 Jap. Ships, 64 Planes Destroyed At Wewak

Northern Advocate, 29 September 1943, Page 2

7 Jap. Ships, 64 Planes Destroyed At Wewak

(Rec. 2.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day

General MacArthur’s communique today states that Allied bombers in a heavy raid off Wewak, sank seven Japanese ships (three tankers and four merchantmen) and t also shot down 14 planes and destroyed 50 more on the ground. Grip On Finschhafen Advanced elements of the Australian force attacking 'Finschhafen, New Guinea, from the south are reported to be closing in on Japanese positions on ridges overlooking the town. These troops have moved inland to outflank Japanese positions guarding the approach from the south which are now threatened from the rear. The enemy is still resisting stubbornly from strong defence positions in the Burni River area, but increasing land and air pressure is being brought to bear on him. Today’s communique from General MacArthur makes no mention of an Allied force advancing from Lae to close the trap on Finschhafen. It was reported yesterday to have reached Hanisch Harbour, 25 miles south-west of Finschhafen. ' In the Markham Valley, the Australians have pushed up the Yati River and occupied Sagerak. eight miles north-west of an enemy outpost at Kaiapit, which was captured' a week ago. This force is steadily squeezing Japanese outposts into the narrow confines of the New Guinea seaboard

Wewak Pounded Again Aerodromes at Wewak, enemy base on the north coast of New Guinea, received another heavy pounding on Sunday from our Liberator bombers, which dropped 33 tons of explosives on supply and dispersal areas, starting fires visible for 30 miles. At Dagua, bombs scored direct hits on six parked aircraft. Lightnings shot down three of 20 Japanese fighters which attempted to intercept the bombers. In a raid on Hansa Bay,, between Wewak and Madang, Liberators effectively concentrated 28 tons of bombs in supply and bivouac areas jat the Nubi and Potsdam plantations, starting many fires. All our planes returned from these raids. There was little air activity in the Solomons on Sunday. Allied aircraft on reconnaissance off Choiseul Island bombed and, strafed three small coastal vessels, one of which was left sinking. . Enemy planes bombed a small Allied vessel off the coast of Vella Lavella Island, causing damage and casualties.