AIR OFFENSIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24761, 8 December 1943, Page 4

AIR OFFENSIVE

MacARTHUK'S BOHBEKS ENEMY BASES POUNDED [(Reed. 6.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 7 Japanese bases in New Britain have been pounded again by General Mac Arthur's aircraft. The heaviest blow reported in to-day's communique was against Cape Gloucester, where about 550 tons of explosives have been dropped in the past fortnight. In "the latest attack, Liberators, escorted by Thunderbolts, dropped 150 tons of bombs on enemy supply installations and gun positions. Australian - manned Beaufort bombers on Saturday night made four attacks on shipping in Rabaul Harbour, and against the near by Lakunai aerodrome. A torpedo hit was scored on a 6000-ton freighter moored in Blanche Bay. When the bombers left, the ship was burning fiercely. R.A.A.F. Beaufighters and Bostons attacking in the Cape Hoskins area at the northern end of New Britain destroyed five loaded barges and a small Coastal vessel. , ■ In attacks reported to-day, Admiral Halsey's bombers dropped about 170 tons of explosives _ on Japanese positions on Bougainville _ Island. Naval •units shelled enemy _ installations on Bougainville and Choiseul Islands. The main land fighting in the Southern Pacific is still occurring on Huon Peninsula, New Guinea. The A.I.F. force moving up the coast in a drive to impede tne passage % of supplies to the Japanese garrison at Wareo has made important progress. Stiff fighting continues around Wareo, where the Japanese hold strong defensive positions. DESERTION OF WIVES AMERICAN SERVICEMEN SYDNEY, Dec. 7 "I have been amazed by the number of Australian-American marriages that have foundered," said Senator Dorothy Tangney. She added that because of the law of domicile, Australian girls who had been deserted by their American soldier husbands were unable to obtain either divorce or maintenance orders.

Senator Tangney is seeking the gazetting of a national security regulation to overcome the difficulty. PRINCE OF PLESS FREED LONDON. Dec. 6 Prince Henrv of Pless, who has been living in London for some years, has been released from internment by order of the Home Secretary, Mr. Herbert Morrison. Hans Heinrich, Prince of Pless (known in England as Prince Henry), was born in Berlin in 1900. His mother was an Englishwoman who became known as Princess Daisy of Pless. Her death was announced in June. After the separation of part of Upper Silesia from Germany after the last war the Princes of Pless became Polish subjects. LEND-LEASE PRICES DISPARITIES IN CHARGES DOMINION FARMERS' LOSS The statement that New Zealand ieemed to be mixing sentiment with business and, instead of negotiating on sound business lines, appeared to be deriving some satisfaction from selling its goods under market value, was made by Mr. J. T. Martin, chairman of directors of Abraham and Williams, Limited, 'at the company's annual meeting. Mr. Martin said that, while not undervaluing the security afforded farmers of a guaranteed price under war conditions, and the desire to help Britain in her gigantic struggle, he could not escape the conviction, shared by many, that insufficient care had been taken by those responsible for the negotiations to protect farmers against increasing costs, labour shortage and many disabilities. "There appears to be little or no resiliency in the agreements, and farmers are unable to secure increases in prices to which, under the circumstances, they are justly entitled," Mr. Martin continued. "We buy American goods in dollars, which at the present ruling exchange cost us 6s Id; we sell to America our products at the same price as we sell to Great Britain, and, with very little modification, at the same prices guaranteed and fixed-at the commencement of the war. Not only are our prices in the circumstances extremely low, but we are buying American goods under lend-lease conditions at exceptionally high prices." Mr. Martin quoted the following as the f.o.b. prices at which New Zealand sold some of its products to America, and the f.o.b. prices for the same products quoted by America for shipment from tneir ports:— , N.Z. Price American Price yool 14d per lb 27.1 d per lb «• 9d per lb 19.4 d per lb i. 7d per lb 13.5 d per lb Butter .. 16.5 d per lb 84.5 d per lb Clieesd .. 8.5 d per lb 20d per ib