DESTROYED OR DISPERSED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 6 April 1943, Page 5

DESTROYED OR DISPERSED

Japanese Ships at Kavieng ONE OF GREATEST AIR FEATS OF WAR New Secret Battle Technique Sydney, April 5. Specially selected Fortress crews used a new secret battle technique against the enemy ships gathered at Kavieng, at the northern end of New Ireland. The victory of the strictly limited Fortress fleets (the grand total of only 26 planes being employed), ranks with the Bismarck Sea battle as one of the greatest air feats of the war. Only to-day did General MacArthur s spokesman reveal that the three-day action was a carefully planned battle and not merely a succession of follow up blows on a chance target. Every pilot was a veteran especially chosen for the job. No more striking indication of success obtained could be given than by the official box score which was released to-day.

This analysis of the three-day battle reads: “Warships, Saturday: Heavy cruiser, four direct hits, sinking; light cruiser, four direct hits, sunk; destroy-

er, two direct hits, sinking: two destroy ers, direct hits, both damaged; tw<

wa ships, bombed with unobserved results. r jnday: Light cruiser or heavy destroyer, one direct hit, damaged; destroyer, direct hit. damaged; destroyer, bombed with unobserved results. Cargo ships, Friday: 10,000 tons, two hits, damaged; 6,000 tons, straddled.

sinking. Saturday: 6,000 tops, direct hits, damaged. Sunday: 7000-8000 tons, bombed with unobserved results; 6000 -tons, hit, damaged; 5000-6000 tons, direct hits, damaged. Over the three days 10 warships and- six merchantmen have been sunk, damaged or bombed with unobserved results.

The official story of the attacks indicated that the Japanese “scarcely knew what hit them.” For three days Allied pilots contrived to continue the element of surprise which on the first day caught and dispersed the enemy ships who were absolutely off their guard. Not a bomb was wasted. Several of the 26 bombers employed were engaged not against the enemy shipping, but in neutralising Kavieng aerodrome. Nevertheless on the second day of the battle a total force of fewer than a dozen planes registered the amazing performance of scoring 11 direct hits with 500-lb bombs in addition to two damaging near misses and two “straddlers.”—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent.