ENEMY BASE AT WEWAK

Southland Times, Issue 25024, 9 April 1943, Page 5

ENEMY BASE AT WEWAK

JAPANESE MAKE IMPROVEMENTS RAID BY LIBERATORS (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9.45 p.m.) April 8. The Japanese have pushed ahead with the development of their base at Wewak until it is now one of the most important in the entire New Guinea zone. Attention has again been focused on this base on the far north coast of the island, about 350 miles north-west of Salamaua, by a Liberator attack on the harbour reported in General Douglas MacArthur’s communique today. Apart from its growing importance as an air base and as the eastern terminal for* the new overland supply route to Lae and Salamaua via Madang, Wewak is being developed to protect Japanese convoys moving into New Guinea waters from Rabaul and Kavieng. Our recent air reconnaissance reveals that the Japanese have constructed a large aerodrome with many dispersal bays and blast pens for the protection of their grounded aircraft against Allied attacks.

The indications are that Wewak is now capable of supporting considerable air strength. One of the runways on the new aerodrome is reported to be a mile in length. In conjunction with the aerodrome a large-scale programme of building is being carried out and a strong anti-aircraft defence has been established. The Japanese ground troops in the area are being steadily reinforced/ DIFFICULTIES OF BOMBING

Wewak is beyond range of effective fighter escort for Allied bombers and in consequence so far has escaped the steady punishment meted out to Lae and Salamaua as our air blockade of these bases has increased. Wewak is further from the Allied bomber bases than Rabaul and the intervening high mountains add to the difficulties of regular bombing attacks. The country around Wewak is reported to lend itself to rapid airfiefld construction. A number of pre-war emergency landing airfields were established on the flat land in the area.

Our air reconnaissance reports that considerable use is being made by the enemy of the new coastal road between Wewak and Madang. The latter base has also been steadily strengthened during the past three months.

JAPANESE BASES BOMBED ATTACK ON CONVOY NEAR KAVIENG (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 8. General MacArthur’s communique states: — ! NORTH-WESTERN SECTOR ! DUTCH NEW GUINEA— Babo: Our I heavy units bombed the aerodrome and town, causing explosions and fires. I Fak Fak: One of our heavy units I bombed the town. 1 TENIMBAR ISLANDS—Saumlaki: One of our medium units bombed and strafed the town. AROE ISLANDS—Dobo: One of our medium units bombed the town. NORTH-EASTERN SECTOR NEW IRELAND— Kavieng: One of our reconnaissance units strafed a small coastal convoy consisting of a destroyer and two cargo vessels northwest of Kavieng. An escorting floatplane attempting interception was driven off and damaged. NEW BRITAIN—Cape Gloucester: One of our heavy units bombed and strafed enemy planes caught on the aerodrome. NEW GUINEA —Wewak: One of our heavy units at mid-day bombed the harbour. Saidor: Our medium bombers executed an intensive sweep along the coast, bombing and strafing the villages of Mur Savei, Fungair, Wilwilan and Yamai. A succession of fires were started. Finchhafen: Our heavy units bombed and strafed the town in I two separate attacks. Lae: One of our | heavy units bombed the aerodrome. Solomon Sea: One of our medium units attacked an enemy destroyer off the coast of Bougainville, scoring near misses. NATIVES DECORATED Ceremony At Milne Bay (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 8. About 3000 Papuans walked up to 50 miles to attend a ceremony near Milne Bay when five native men and one woman were decorated with the Australian Award for Loyal Service. The woman was a nurse who saved the life of an Australian airman on the north-east coast of Papua. The presentations were made by an Australian general and afterwards the festivities continued throughout the night. The army presented the natives with three bullocks and hundreds of tins of bullybeef and sacks of flour. The Loyal Service Award is a large medal of white metal, with the Australian coat of arms on one side and the words “For Loyalty,” and the recipient’s name on the other. The medals, hung on a steel chain, are placed round the necks of those decorated. DR EVATT IN AMERICA TALKS IN~WASHINGTON (Rec. 11.5 p.m.) SIDNEY, April 8. The Australian Minister of External Affairs, Dr H. V. Evatt, has arrived in San Francisco. He will leave for Washington tomorrow. The Prime Minister, Mr John Curtin, announced today that Dr Evatt is accompanied by Mrs Evatt, the Director of Post-war Reconstruction, Dr H. C. Coombs, Mr W. S. Robinson and Dr J. W. Burton. Dr Coombs is accompanying the Minister for discussions on food and post-war reconstruction problems generally. Mr Robinson is acting as adviser on supply matters. Mr Burton is the Minister’s private secretary.

It is announced that the Australian Minister to Washington, Sir Owen Dixon, will confer with Dr Evatt and will then proceed to Australia for a short visit

Mr Curtin will act as Minister of External Affairs and Mr J. A. Beasley as Attorney-General during Dr Evatt’s absence. The Federal Treasurer, Mr J. B. Chifley r will take Dr Evatt’s place on the War Council.