FIVE SHIPS SUNK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 24 November 1943, Page 5

FIVE SHIPS SUNK

S.-W. PACIFIC ALLIED AIR ACTIVITY JAPANESE CONVOY ENCOUNTERED Sydney, Nov. 23. The sinking of five. Japanese ships ranging from a 4000-ton freighter transport to small coastal vessels and the probable sinking of an 8000-ton freight-er-transport are reported by General MacArthur’s communique to-day. Here is a tally of damage done in the continued Allied aerial offensive against enemy shipping in the South-West Pacific.

Sunk: 4000-ton freighter-transport off Manokwari, Dutch New Guinea; 2000ton cargo ship; a 1000-ton cargo ship, two small coastal vessels near Taberfane, Aru Islands.

Damaged: 8000-ton freighter-transport hit amidships, set on fire and probably sunk near Kavieng, New Ireland; 4000ton freighter-transport damaged by near misses near the Aru Islands; 1000ton cargo ship attacked near the Vitu Islands, New Britain; five barges and two small ships attacked off the New Britain coast.

A Japanese convoy at Taberfane was attacked on Sunday morning by Dutchmanned Mitchell medium bombers. American Liberator heavy bombers and R.A.A.F. Beaufighters shot down three enemy float-planes. The 2000-ton cargo ship broke in half following direct bomb hits. Six Zeros intercepted the Liberators which sank the 4000-ton freighter-transport at Manokwari. Two were shot down and one damaged. One Liberator was lost.

The 8000-ton freighter-transport probably sunk by a lone Liberator near Kavieng, New Ireland, was part of a three-ship convoy. Nine protecting fighters attempted to drive off the Liberator and one was shot down. Another convoy of six ships was also observed in the same area headed towards Rabaul.

The main Allied air activity in the Solomons was an attack by nearly 100 planes on enemy troop concentrations south of Empress Augusta Bay on the west coast of Bougainville. Considerable destruction and casualties are believed to have ben caused.

Cable news In this issue has been received by telegraph and is copyright to the Press Association. By special arrangement Reuter’s world service, in addition to other sources of information, has been used in its compilation and all rights concerning its re-publi-cation in Australia and New Zealand are reserved.