PACIFIC ATTACKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24758, 4 December 1943, Page 7

PACIFIC ATTACKS

SHIPS AND DUMPS HIT ALLIED OPERATIONS SEVERE ENEMY LOSSES (Special Australian Correspondent) (Heed. 8.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 8 Successes against Japanese shipping. aircraft and ground forces are reported by General Mac Arthur's communique to-day. The main features were : One 10,000-ton transport sunk and a large tanker and two destroyers badly damaged; the pounding of Wewak with 110 tons of high explosives, and the shooting down of ten out of 40 intercepting Zeros; Australian troops on Huon Peninsula have crossed the Song River and are advancing in three directions for a general assault against Wareo.

In addition, an American marine force in the Solomons made a daring night hit-and-run raid against enemy positions south of Empress Augusta Hay, killing 200 .Japanese and destroying large ammunition and supply dumps. The marines' losses were light. Considerable movement of Japanese shipping has again been reported in the Kavieng-Rabaul area. United States Catalinas and Liberators on reconnaissance sighted two convoys—one of ten to 12 large ships and another six ships. The Catalinas scored direct hits with 5001b. bombs on two destroyers and a large tanker* which burst into flames, and may have become a total loss. The 10.000-ton transport reported sunk was attacked by Liberators. A direct hit caused a heavy explosion, and the ship burst into flames. It was abandoned and sank quipkly. Liberators, escorted by Thunderbolts, smashed Japanese supply dumps around Wewak. We lost two Liberators.

The crew of a Liberator, one of two lost during yesterday's attack on Wewak, were fired on by Japanese pursuit planes as they parachuted into the sea. Airmen who returned from the mission said that five Zeros broke formation to fire on the parachutists. They flew within 60ft. of theii victims. MARSHALLS ZONE AMERICAN AIR ACTIVITY ENEMY CONVOY BOMBED (Reed. 11.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Dec. 3 Admiral C. W. Nimitz, Comnlander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet, announced that our aircraft .continue raid and search operations in the Marslialls. On Tuesday morning Seventh Army Air Force Liberators- bombing Taroa aerodrome were intercepted by 35 Zeros, seven of which were shot down and at least four damaged. All our planes returned, but several were damaged and two men were injured. A Liberator of the fleet air wing which was attacked by Zeros near Mile shot down one, probably shot down another, and probably damaged two others. A Navy spokesman disclosed that the Seventh Air Force in addition bombed Mile at noon yesterday, starting firer and explosions. The Liberators bombing Taroa on Tuesday morning en--countered en route a large enemy com vov, which was bombed and strafedj but no positive damage is claimed. Two American destroyers in the Gilbert- area repelled a prolonged attack by enemy planes, destroying three ant? probably destroying two others Neither destroyer was damaged.

Only one ship was lost in the Alliei Gilbert Island operations. The' Navy Department announced that this was the escort aircraft-carrier Liscombe Bay, which was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine. . The Liscombe Bay was the first baby flat-top lost since the war. A Navy spokesman admitted that the losses on the ship were heavy. JAPAN'S NAVAL LOSSES INACCURATE REPORTS LONDON, Dec. 2 If the Government wished the country to be less optimistic and avert any possibility of slackening, it must give the public , more war information, said Sir John Wardhiw Milne (Conservative —Kidderminster), during the resumed debate on the Address-in-Reply in the House of Commons. " The Japanese at the beginning of the war." he said, "had 18 battleships, of which the Americans sank three aiul damaged 10. The Japanese had IS aircraft-carriers, of which t'ho Americans sank six and damaged nine. The Japanese had 56 cruisers, of which the Americans sank 34 and damaged 68 and probably sunk four. The Japanese had 156 destroyers, of which 76 were sunk, 82 damaged and IS probably sunk. "I do not give these figures," he added, "in order to call attention to their inaccuracy, because I believe they were accurate from an observer's viewpoint at the time, but, unless the public gets more information about what is happening and what Japan and Germany are doing, obviously the people will think things are surely over." BATAN DEFENCES NEW YORK, Dec. 9 Released internees from the Philippines report that the Japanese have rebuilt Batan Peninsula, on the west side of Manila Bay, into a fortress where they intend to make a last stand when the Americans return. The Japanese have stored enough food there to last .15 years, and have also installed heavy guns. HIGH RANK AT 35 (Reed. 8.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 3 Promoted to brigadier-general, Frederick H. Smith, an air task commander in New Guinea, to-day becomes one of the* youngest general officers in _the United States Army. He is aged 35. Brigadier-General Smith is a Son of Major-Genera] H. Smith, United States Army, who recently retired. His is a daughter of Admiral Ernest King, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Navy.