RAIDS IN PACIFIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25560, 13 June 1944, Page 6

RAIDS IN PACIFIC

ENEMY BASES ATTACKED (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 12. Liberators from General Mac Arthur’s command, supporting simultaneous action by an American naval task force in the Marianas, struck strongly against Japanese Central Pacific bases on Friday and Saturday. At least 22 parked planes were destroyed at Palau, about i.OO miles south-west of the Marianas, and a similar distance due east of the Philippines. Other Liberators which raided aerodromes and a seaplane base at Truk were intercepted by 30 fighters, of which three were either destroyed or damaged. One Libeiator was lost. The Marianas, 690 miles north-west of Truk, are 1600 miles from Tokio. Their reduction would be a major step in the drive to reconquer the Philippines. The Marianas were previously raided by an American naval task force on FebrCiary 22. In the meantime, at the south-west-ern flank of the Philippines, General MacArthur's bombers are maintaining punishing attacks against Japanese shipping in western Dutch New Guinea. Following Friday’s raid on Manokwari, when three vessels were sunk, Mitchells on Saturday, in a devastating 10minute attack in the same area, destroyed a 1000-ton freighter, six coastal vessels, and a barge. Allied naval patrols destroyed or damaged eight other barges at Biak Island. For the first time in many months two Japanese freighters on Friday opposed an attack on Rabaul (New Britain) by American and New Zea-land-manned planes from the Solomons. The enemy interception effort was ineffectual. Thousands of tons of explosives have been dropped on Rabaul without interference from the Japanese Air Force.