CONVOY BOMBED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25175, 16 March 1943, Page 3

CONVOY BOMBED

JAPANESE AT WEWAK TWO MORE SHIPS HIT (N.Z.P.A.* Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Mar. 15. Two more ships, a large destroyer and a 7000-ton merchant vessel, have been hit by Allied heavy bombers in attacks on the Japanese convoy attempting to reinforce the enemy's northern New Guinea base of Wewak, 350 miles north-west of Lae. The 8000ton transport set on fire on Saturday night was later seen to explode, and a 4000-ton vessel (now revealed as a tanker) is believed to have been sunk. The latest reported Allied air attacks were made on shore installations at Wewak on Sunday morning when the convoy was just outside tne harbour. It is possible that some of the ships have since entered port. The Liberators making the latest raid encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire from ships and shore. Although Zeros were seen ou the Wewak aerodrome the enemy did not attempt fighter interception. The damage so far suffered by the Japanese vessels was inflicted in our air attacks up to Saturday night. All the attacks on the vessels are believed to have been made at night and our bombers have been hampered by heavy weather as well as by the extreme distance. Wewak is 480 miles from the main Allied New Guinea base of Port Moresby. The raids so far reported have been made by Flying Fortresse* and Liberators. Official reports state that fewer aircraft were taking part than were engaged in the Bismarck Sea battle. No estimate has been announced of th» number of enemy troops carried by the convoy, which is one of the two sighted off Maus Island, in the Admiralty Group, last Thursday. Nothing further has been heard of. the second convoy, but it may at a later stage endeavour to join the ships now at Wewak.