Japs. Fail To Repair Bougainville ’Dromes

Northern Advocate, 15 December 1943, Page 3

Japs. Fail To Repair Bougainville ’Dromes

SYDNEY, This Day. When the Solomons air force resumed the offensive against Japanese supply areas on Bougainville last Saturday wiin 175 sorties, it was discovered that the enemy had failed to rebuild any airfields which heavy raids have kept inoperative since last October. This is reported by a United Press correspondent at Admiral Halsey’s headquarters, who adds that officials refused to speculate on the reason, but observers believed that the threat of new American blows, plus depleted Japanese airpower, has caused the enemy to hold planes in reserve. A spokesman revealed that a destroyer bombarded the Jaba River mouth, southeast of the Allied positions at Empress Augusta Bay. where the Japanese have undoubtedly moved in supplies under cover of recent bad weather. Rapid Coastal Advance Supported bv 28-ton Matilda tanks, Australian troops are advancing rapidly up the coast of the Huon Peninsula, New Guinea, against stiff Japanese opposition. They have crossed the Sowi River, and are now nearing the important enemy barge base of Lakona. This represents an advance of about five miles from Bonga, which fell to the Australians on November 28. After crossing the Sowi River, our forces encountered stubborn enemy r*> sistance. They compelled the Japanese to withdraw and some enemy equipment was captured. ' Further patrol clashes have been reported in the Ramu Valley, wnere another Australian force is thrusting against Japanese positions in the foothills of the Finisterre Range, at the northern end ol the valley. The.air war in this sector has quickened during the past 48 hours. When nine Japanese bombers, by 15 Zeros, attempted to attack Australian positions at Gusap (about 60 mile? south of the big Japanese coastal base of Madang), they were intercepted by our fighter patrols, losing two bombers and one fighter shot down, and u second fighter probably destroyed. Widespread Air Attacks General MacArthur’s communique today also reports widespread Allied air attacks ranging from the Arafura Sea t»* the Solomons. Nearly 100 of Admiral Halsey’s aircraft dropped 54 tons of bomosr on the Japanese base of Jakohina, in the Buin area, Bougainville Island. Nine buildings were destroyed when Kittyhawks bombed and strafed fi-.e Angua Mission, near Kieta. Bomb-carrying Kittyhawks also attacked Japanese bases in western New Britain. They concentrated principally on an aerodrome at Gasmata, where, despite heavy anti-aircraft fire, they accomplished | their mission without loss. No enemy fighter opposition was encountered. Many 500-lb. bombs smashed runways and dis- , persal bays.