MORE LANDINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24243, 8 April 1942, Page 5

MORE LANDINGS

ENEMY IN SOLOMONS POTENTIAL PLANE BASES "TOKEN FORCES" ARRIVE ■ j SYDNEY, April 7 Japanese forces have made further landings in the Solomon Islands, reports the Sydney Morning Herald's war correspondent in New Guinea. At present they occupy Kieta, on Bougainville Island, Kessa, on Buka Island, and Faisi. There is no indication of the size of the forces, which made landings from small naval craft, other than that they are "token forces." Most of the centres occupied can be used as seaplane or land piano bases. The new landings do not at present represent any serious threat to Allied possessions in . the Pacific. The Japanese, however, says the correspondent, may hope to use the bases in the Solomons for a probable drive against New Caledonia and Fiji.

AERIAL ASSAULTS BATTERING JAPANESE MORE DAMAGE AT RABAUL SYDNEY, April 7 The Japanese lost more valuable ships as a result of heavy Allied raids on Rabaul harbour, New Britain, yesterday, says the Sydney Morning Herald's war correspondent. Direct hits were scored on large vessels and it is reported that many near misses caused damage to others. Rabaul aerodrome was also attacked, damage being caused to aircraft on the ground. In another attack against Gasmata, on the south coast of New Britain, further damage was caused. Full details of the damage are not yet available, but it appears that the raids were among the heaviest yet carried out in the New Guinea theatre. Allied bombers and fighters made a joint. attack on Lae, in New Guinea, yesterday. They met intense anti-air-craft fire, but no interception was attempted Runways and buildings were successfully bombed. It is believed that several enemy aircraft on the ground were destroyed by fire. The Daily Telegraph's New Guinea correspondent says the Allied air forces on the North Australian front are showing impressive superiority over the Japanese. Fast American lighters flown by skilful pilots have completely altered the picture, and the Royal Australian Air Force men are displaying individual daring which completely eclipses the best Japanese performances. Compared with the assaults which the Australian forces are now directing against Lae, Salamaua and Rabaul, the enemy attacks against Port Moresby have been ineffective.

CAUGHT OFF GUARD JAPANESE PLANES SUFFER AUSTRALIAN RAID ON LAE SYDNEY, April 7 The brilliant hit-and-run raid on Lae aerodrome, in New Guinea, by Royal Australian Air Force fighters late "on Saturday night, in which 15 enemy aircraft were destroyed or damaged 'without loss, is further described in a Port Moresby message. The attack, which was preceded by a survey by a single aeroplane, was carried out at ground level. The Japanese were caught completely off their guard and the fighters met no anti-aircraft opposition. They swooped in, machine-gunning three separate lines of Japanese aircraft while enemy personnel were running for cover. As they left, the pilots saw large fires coming from four bombers and a fighter. They are confident that they also damaged badly seven or eight bombers and at least three fighters. "The war in New Guinea." adds the message, "at present goes distinctly in favour of the R.A.A.F. and their Allies. The gallantry and skill of our airmen are helping to maintain New Guinea as the strongest buffer against further Japanese moves from Rabaul and the north coast bases toward Australia."

f NEW ADVENTURE i GERMAN PARATROOPS r i ACTIVITY IN MEDITERRANEAN t (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 6 j Air-General Student, the German . paratroops' leader, has joined Kesselring in joint command of Axis air ' operations in the/Mediterranean, says the military correspondent of the Daily Express. This fact, together with the presence on North Mediterranean shores and in North Africa of many hundreds of gliders and transport planes, suggests {hat Germany's air-borne army is organising for a new adventure. J Student personally led the paratroops' i attacks against Holland, where he was j wounded, and also against Crete, where he claimed to be the first to jump from a plane. LOST OVERBOARD UNITED STATES ADMIRAL (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 6 1 Ilear-Admiral J. W. Wilcox has been lost "overboard at sea in heavy weather during normal cruising. Rear-Admiral Wilcox had been on sea duty since November, 1941. Previously be was president of the Board of Inspection and Survey of the Navy Department. IlearAdmiral Wilcox is the second United States admiral lost since December 12, when Rear-Admiral Isaac Kidd was killed at Pearl Harbour. VENTURE FAILED STEAMERS RETURN TO PORT GOTHENBURG, April 6 The crew of two Norwegian ships, Lionel and Dicto, which returned to port when their passage was blocked by German naval patrols, revealed that women refugees were aDoard the 10 Norwegian ships which attempted to reach Britain from Gothenburg last week. BULGARIA'S DESTINY WILL KEEP WHAT SHE HOLDS (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 6 According to a Swiss report, the Bulgarian Minister of War, General T. Daskaloff, made this statement to the Bulgarian people to-day: "We have only one thought —to keep the territories ceded to Bulgaria. If the people are called on to take up arms it will only be for the future of the country ami its children. Bulgaria knows if it is possible to get out of the present conflict without human sacrifice King Boris will do so, but it knows also that it should be ready to crush whoever interferes to prevent the realisation of its destiny." LARGE-SCALE RAID LONDON, April • / There was a large-scale enemy raid on Malta last night, but details are not yet available.