OVER MOLUCCA SEA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 15 August 1944, Page 5

OVER MOLUCCA SEA

ALLIED BOMBER SWEEPS 21 JAP SHIPS HIT IN FORTNIGHT Main attacks on halmaiiera Sydney. August 11. Allied bombers, sweeping tbe Molucca Sea between New Guina and the Philippines, have destroyed or damaged 24 Japanese merchantmen during the past fortnight. They have also sunk and damaged shipping in Philippines waters. The main attacks have centred around Halmahera on a direct line from Dutch New Guinea to Mindanao (Philippines). Halmahera, only 350 miles south of the Philippines was an important Japanese staging base at the height of the enemy advance in the Pacific. * It still bos a large garrison.* and shipping attacked there during the past fortnight has been that normally required to service these troops. The main anchorage are in Kaoe Bay, a wide stretch of water at the north of the island.

General Mac Arthur’s communique today gives details of the latest blows against enemy shipping at Halmahera. Catalina flying-boats left a 1000-ton freighter burning on Friday night, while Mitchell medium bombers scored direct hits on a 3000-ton vessel. Luggers and barges were also attacked. In Davao Gulf (Mindanao), a United States Navy Liberator sank a 3000-ton freighter. This area has been visited by Allied bombers six times in the past week.

Only light casualties have been inflicted on American troops fighting near Aitape, British New Guinea, where General Adachi’s Japanese Eighteenth Army is being annihilated. An official statement of American casualties is 285 killed, 999 wounded and 23 missing. Enemy casualties are at least fourteen times as great. Counted Japanese dead number more than 8000 and his total casualties are estimated to exceed 13.000.—P.A. Special Australian Correspon-