SEVERE BLOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25565, 19 June 1944, Page 6

SEVERE BLOW

JAPANESE AIR POWER HEAVY RAID ON SORONG 01.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) €Rec. 8 p.m) SYDNEY, June 18. The remnants of Japanese air-power in New Guinea have suffered a severe blow. Sorong, in Western Dutch New » Guinea, the last remaining effective enemy base on the island, has beeh smashed by General MacArthur’s bombers and fighters, and at last 50 enemy aircraft concentrated there were destroyed either on the ground or in air combat. To-day’s South-west Pacific communique says that complete tactical surprise was effected. The airfields at Sorong were left covered by smoke, with numerous fires in the supply and dispersal areas. While the main South-west Pacific Allied air blow reported during the week-end was against Japanese plane strength, further punishing attacks were made against the sea communications in Western Dutch New Guinea. The port of Kokas, 60 miles west of Babo, on the Maccluer Gull, was the chief target. Harbour installations and warehouses were destroy ed, and a 1000-ton vessel, as well as a number of barges, either sunk ,or damaged. At Manokware several coastal vessels were hit. The American invasion forces on Biak Island in this sector are making steady progress in their drive towards Borokoe airfield. The Japanese have employed tanks to support their infantry and artillery attempting to stem the American advance. Three enemy tanks were destroyed m the latest fighting, and four five-inch guns were captured. Bazooka guns accounted for two of the tanks. The Japanese lost 160 killed in an unsuccessful counterattack intended to foil the Allied enveloping movement. Strong enemy positions are believed to confront the Americans attacking Borokoe. the second of the islands three airfields. The first of these Mokmer, was captured more than a week aS The gradual widening of the arc of South-west Pacific bomber operations has again been evidenced by further raids on Yap, Palau, and Truk. These tsxHcts have been hit on successive days. Again Liberators raiding Truk encountered fighter opposition, one of 15 intercepting enemy machines being shot down. Liberators attacking Yap 500 miles north-east of Palau, had to fly blind through hundreds of miles of terrific storms. The first attacks on this important enemy base by landbased planes were made at night. Many large fires were started, but the extant of the damage could not be ascertained.