PERSISTENT SWEEPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 13 January 1944, Page 5

PERSISTENT SWEEPS

RABAUL POUNDED BY ALLIES AIR INSTALLATIONS DAMAGED SHIPPING ELSEWHERE ATTACKED Sydney, Jan. 12. An air battle over Rabaul. New Britain, has cost the Japanese 16 fighters. Four Allied planes were lost. Maintaining their persistent aerial sweeps over this key enemy base our Solomons-based heavy torpedo and dive bombers, with fighter escort, were intercepted by 40 Zeros. Despite interception they carried out attacks on Vimakanua and Tobere aerodromes. Runways were damaged, anti-aircraft positions were hit and parked planes were destroyed. Installations at Rabaul aerodromes have recently been under sustained attacks by planes of both the South-West and South Pacific Commands. General MacArthur’s communique today reports another air clash over Wewak. north-east New Guinea, where Allied fighter patrols encountered a force of 18 Zeros. They shot down one and probably destroyed another. Damage to Japanese shipping reported by the latest South-West Pacific communique includes a destroyer and a 1500-ton merchantman, which were set on fire The destroyer was an escort vessel with’an enemy six-ship convoy. It was attacked by a United States naval Catalina 40 miles south-west of Dyaul Island. New Ireland, on Sunday night. A direct hit amidships left the destroyer burning with its anti-aircraft guns silent A United States Navy Catalina Iso registered a hit on a merchantman which was one of the two vessels attacked at Hansa Bay, north-east New Guinea, on Sunday night. The ship was left burning and trailing a large oil slick. The heaviest Allied air strike recorded by General MacArthur’s communique was against the Japanese barge and supply base of Bogadjim on the north coast of New Guinea in a series of raids ovar two days in which 76 tons of bombs were dropped AUSTRALIAN DRIVE Australian troops driving along the north New Guinea coast are now within eight miles of Sio. Allied artillery is shelling Japanese installations at Gneisenau Point, about four miles from Sio. At Cape Gloucester, western New Britain, where American marines are still thrusting forward in the Borgen Bay area, two strong Japanese counterattacks were repulsed on Monday. Enemy troops continue to offer fierce resistance.—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent. MARSHALLS AND CAROLINES COMMENT ON POST-WAR CONTROL MR NASH’S STATEMENT CRITICISED Canberra, Jan. 12. Post-war control of the Marshall and Caroline Islands carried with it full responsibility for their secure defence. Nothing less would satisfy Australia, said the Deputy-Leader of the 'Opposition, Mr Hughes, to-night. He was commenting on a statement by the N.Z. Minister in Washington, the Hon. W Nash, that the United States might have some justification in claiming these islands after the war. Mr Hughes said it would serve no useful purpose to raise questions relating to territorial sovereignty in other parts of the world. The less said about the postwar disposition of these islands at the present moment when Japan’s hold upon them was unshaken, the better. “To talk about the disposing of a lion’s skin while the beast still lives is, to say the least, a little premature. It will be time enough when the Japanese are driven out. As far as Australia is concerned it is vitally important that the control of these islands should be vested in a great friendly power, and for geographical purposes that means Britain or the United States.” NEW BATTLE TECHNIQUES New York, Jan. 12. New secret battle techniques are being developed in the Pacific, employing devices of which it is believed the enemy is not aware. The “New York Times” correspondent at a Central Pacific naval air station says naval authorities are of the opinion that they are impressively deadly and will tremendously affect the outcome of the duration of the Pacific war. SHORTLAND ISLAND SHELLED Sydney, This Day. Japanese installations in the Shortland Islands, northern Solomons, were shelled on Saturday night by Allied cruisers and destroyers firing 6000 rounds. Proporang Island was also shelled and shore batteries were silenced.