WAR IN PACIFIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24869, 15 April 1944, Page 8

WAR IN PACIFIC

RAID ON HOLLANDIA HUGE FIRES BURNING NEW GUINEA AIR ATTACKS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Kecd. 030 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 14 Huge fires raged at Hollandia, Japanese base in Dutch New Guinea, after 200 Allied planes attacked it for the sixth time in 15 days. The attack lasted 40 minutes and 322 tons of explosives were dropped. Smoke from blazing buildings and dumps rose 10,000 ft. in the air. Several heavy gun positions were knocked out by 10001b. and oOOOIb. bombs. , Enemy Freighter Destroyed

In Humboldt Bay, Now Guinea, a 2000-ton freighter was destroyed. Two smaller freighters, seven coastal vessels and several barges were set on fire by bombing and strafing. Of 20 defending fighters, eight were destroyed and 10 damaged. One of our planes was shot down and others were damaged. At Vanino, our air patrols attacked a small enemy freighter, driving it aground. Bivouac and supply areas at Dagua were attacked by our heavy •units, 35 tons of bombs being used. Firss were caused in the Hansa BayMadang area. Heavy units attacked defences at Uligan with 41 tons of bombs, causing lartie fuel fires. At Karkar Island, our medium unite and attack planes destroyed several buildings by bombing and strafing. Attacks on Bougainville Torpedo, dive and fighter-bombers attacked enemy positions south and east of Km press Augusta Bay, Bougainville, causing fires. Air patrols attacked shore defences and coastal targets off the south-west coast in the Shorthand Islands and in the Buka area, north of Bougainville. In the Caroline Islands, Solomonsbased air patrols at night bombed the warehouse area at Dublon Island, Iruk, starting fires. Other patrols at mid-day bombed the Alet aerodrome in Puluwat Atoll, 200 miles to the west.