FRUSTRATED PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24536, 19 March 1943, Page 3

FRUSTRATED PLAN

DESERTED ENEMY BASE ELABORATE SYSTEM DISCOVER!? IN NEW GUINEA (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 8.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 18 Australian and American troops have made the discovery of an elaborate Japanese defence system near the mouth of the Mambare River, Northern New Guinea, midway between Salamaua and Buna. Signs point to the enemy having evacuated the area within the past few days, making it cloar that the purpose of the defences was to accommodate the 15,000 men killed when the Japanese convoy was annihilated in the Bismarck Sea. The defences could have duplicated the Buna-Gona fortifications in the event of an Allied attempt a.t a largescale penetration along the Northern Now Guinea coastline. However, officially they are believed to have been constructed to serve as a beach-head for a fresh offensive by a substantial enemy force. The likely direction of such an offensive has not been indicated. Flight of Japanese "Allied infantry patrols ha,ve been mopping up in this area for many weeks," a spokesman at General MacArthur's headquarters said to-day. "Japanese soldiers had been seen quite recently, but our troops took prepared

positions without firing a shot. When the Bismarck Sea convoy was sunk to the last ship and the enemy's new plan evaporated, the Japanese at the Mam bare defence works fled, "These troops may have included remnants from the Japanese convoy which forced a costly landing in the area in the middle of December. Our aircraft killed at least 600 enemy soldiers landing at the river mouth from destroyers. It is officially estimated ihat about 400 escaped and joined up with scattered units fleeing from the Allies in the Buna-Gona sector." Provision for Large Force The official communique says: "Ground forces mopping up the area at the Mambare River mouth have come upon an elaborate and recentlyconstructed enemy defence system, including prepared positions, pillboxes, a hospital and other installations for a large force. Signs of recent and hasty evacuation indicated the decisive blow dealt to the enemy on the north front by the destruction of the convoy in the Bismarck Sea battle, these positions having no doubt been constructed in preparation for their coming for a probable future offensive." RAID ON AERODROME GROUNDED PLANES DAMAGED (Special Auatralian Correspondent) (Reed. 7.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, March J8 Heavy bombers attacked the llapopo aerodrome at Rabaul, New Britain, aiter dusk on Wednesday, dropping 392 bombs on the runway and throughout the dispersal areas, says to-day's communique from General AlacArthur's headquarters. Numerous explosions and fires indicated heavy destruction of enemy aircraft caught on the ground. Anti-aircraft fire and searchlights were encountered. Our aircraft drove off two enemy night fighters attempting interception. All our planes returned. One of our heavy units bombed and strafed enemy ground installations at Übili, New Britain. ATTACKS ON SHIPPING RELENTLESS PRESSURE (Special Australian Correspondent) (Kecd. 8.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 18 Continued attacks against Japanese shipping reported in General MacArthur's communique to-day indicate the relentless pressure being maintained by the Allies against any sign of enemy movement north of Australia. The communique says that one heavy bomber attacked three enemy coastal vessels in McCluer Gulf, Dutch New Guinea, with unobserved results. In the Kei islands of Kaidoelah and Langgoer one medium bomber strafed two enemy luggers. Medium bombers attacked an enemy-occupied town in two waves, causing fires and heavy damage among houses, barracks, workshops and in the wharf area. Slight anti-aircraft fire was encountered. A single enemy float-plane raided the town area of Merauke, the southern New Guinea Allied base, without causing damage or casualties. KEEN AIR FORCE SUPERIOR TO THE ENEMY (Reed. 5.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 17 "J don't know —and I don't think the Japanese know either," answered Lioiitoiiiint-General G. C. Kenney, Allied air commander in the South-west Pacific, replying to a reporter's question if ho thought a Japanese attack on Australia was imminent. Meeting reporters after conferring with President Roosovolt General Kenney told the press that Australia was doing a superb job. He particularly praised the Australian and Dutch airmen working with the Fifth American Air Force. "The air force morale and spirit is so high that it sometimes scares us," he said. "Thcv are all eagerness to move ahead. "The quality of the Japanese pilots unquestionably has deteriorated to a degree. Their highly-skilled first string team has entirely gone, while our first team is just getting into line." General Kenney said the quality of the Allied planes opposing the Japanese was now and always had been better than the enemy's, with the margin of superiority remaining fairly stable. TO JO'S ADMISSION SITUATION MORE SERIOUS (Reed. 11.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, March 18 The Tolcio official radio reports that tho Prime Minister, Tojo, has warned Japan that tho war situation is becoming more serious. He announced the formation of a new Cabinet and a wartime economic council, also an administrative supply council to help stimulate an increase oi' strenytii. '