SHIPS ATTACKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24539, 23 March 1943, Page 3

SHIPS ATTACKED

MacARTHUR'S BOMBERS CONSTANT VIGILANCE MUCH JAPANESE MOVEMENT (Special Australian Correspondent) (Rocd. 8.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 22 Undeterred by their recent heavy losses, the Japanese are still moving transports and supply vessels under the Allied protective bombing screen guarding Austi'alia's far north. Every day brings fresh evidence that the enemy are strengthening their grip on the island arc, particularly in the New Guinea area. Six of eight enemy shins attacked by General Mac Arthur's aircraft on Sunday were off the south-western end of Dutch New Guinea. The Japanese appear to be establishing a series of bases in the Cape Van Den Bosch area, about 500 miles north of Darwia. Escorted Transports Two transports which, together with a destroyer, were attacked as they were leaving Kaimana, north-east of Cape Van Den Bosch, 1 on Sunday morning were between 8000 and 9000 tons. They are believed to be the same ships that were attacked on Saturday in this locality. Further east along the south coast of Dutch New Guinea three enemy ships attacked by a Liberator off CapeNamaripi were each about 1000 tons. Olficial reports during the last few weeks have indicated that the Japanese have a holding base at Kauken'au and have fanned out on both sides, moving in a westerly direction toward Babo, in McLeur Inlet. "Our medium units during yesterday morning bombed a three-ship enemy convoy, consisting of two medium cargo vessels and a destroyer, leaving Kaimana, with unobserved results, says General Mac Arthur's communique. "Later in the day one of our heavy bombers attacked the same force, straddling a medium cargo vessel with bombs. "One of our heavy reconnaissance units bombed three enemy merchant vessels off the coast at Cape Ivamaripi and strafed barges near the shore. One of our medium bombers at dusk strafed the* enemy-occupied village of Langgoer, Kei Islands, silencing a machines gun position and damaging two luggers

in tlie harbour. Large Destroyer Damaged "In a night harassing raid one of our medium units bombed and strafed the aerodrome and ground installations at Gasmata, New Britain, causing explosions and fires, which were still burning an hour later when we left the target. One of our heavy units bombed an enemy cargo ship in Borgen Bay, in the Cape Gloucester area, scoring a direct hit and a miss within 10ft. of the vessel, which was left listing and in a sinking condition. "During the night one of our medium reconnaissance units attacked a large enemy destroyer in the Solomons s.rea. proceeding east at high speed. Two direct hits crippled the warship, which was last seen limping toward its base at a greatly reduced speed and trailing a large slick of oil. _ : "One of our medium units executed a harassing night raid on the aerodrome and town of Madang, New Guinea, starting fires. of. our medium units raided the Finschhafen area at night." , — t, 14 HOURS IN SEA ORDEAL AMONG SHARKS (Reed. 7.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 22 When their bomber crashed into the sea about six miles off the north New Guinea const and sank almost immediately, two American airmen endured 14 terrible hours before they were rescued. A third airman is still missing. The three men were half-way to the beach after six hours' swimming when the tide turned and swept them out to sea again. Sharks swam close by them. "We stayed stock-still floating in our life jackets whenever we saw sharks, said one of the survivors, "and I think that is whv we were not attacked. But the sight of those shark fins cutting through tlie water is a horrible sight I shall never get out of my mind." The two men were picked up bv an armv patrol canoe off the mouth of the Kumusi River, but an expensive sea search has failed to find the third man. After a few days in the hospital the rescued airmen are now looking forward to their discharge. SOLOMONS BOMBINGS (Reed. 7.40 p.m > WASHINGTON, .March 21 A United States Navy communique states that Dauntless dive-bombers, escorted by Wildcats, on Friday attacked Vila, central Solomons, and started fires. A similar force on Saturday attacked Munda, New Georgia, and also started fires. The same evening Flving Fortresses and Liberators _ attacked Japanese positions at Kahili, m the Shortland Island area. ! MERCANTILE MARINE AUSTRALIAN DEVELOPMENT (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 22 Australia must develop its own mercantile marine after tlie war to preserve the shipbuilding industry, which now employed 15,000 workers, said the Attorney-General, Dr. H. V. Evatt. The number of employees was three i times as great as in 1936. The increase I had been caused by the naval programme, the Commonwealth shipbuilding programme and the greater demand for ship repairs. Dr. Evatt said Australia was repairing more than 1,000.000 tons of shipping a month, equivalent to 50 large passenger liners or more than 200 medium-sized cargo vessels. "This young, vigorous and technically efficient shipbuilding and ship-repairing industry is a new factor in Australian economy," said Dr. Evatt, "Australia must retain this industry. In normal times our foreign trade per head is among the highest in the world, We must develop our own _ mercantile marine to carry an increasing proportion of our own foreign trade,"

AMERICAN FOOD CONTROL (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON. March 21 The Government lias prohibited sales of all edible fats from to-morrow until the rationing of fata and meats begins on March 29. The order covers butter, lard, margarine, cooking oil and salad oil Officials said the prohibition was necessary because stocks wore not large enough to support heavy public buying during the week before rationing.