INCREASE NOTED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22486, 22 January 1943, Page 5

INCREASE NOTED

Enemy Fighter Strength In Pacific N.Z.P.A.— Special Australian Correspondent (10.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 21. Allied bombers are pounding Japanese bases across a wide arc from Timor to the Northern Solomons. The raids during the last fortnight represent the greatest sustained air offensive ever launched in the South-west Pacific. To-day’.s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters reports bombing attacks on 10 separate points on Australia’s near north, while American aircraft from Guadalcanal have been raiding Japanese occupied islands in the Solomons. This latter blow is widely believed to have been delivered to hamper the expected Japanese thrust against Guadalcanal. Mitchell medium-bombers of the South-west Pacific Command on Wednesday attacked the jetty at Dobo rmd probably destroyed one of three intercepting enemy float-planes. A Liberator reconnaissance over Amboina shot down an intercepting Zero. In Timor Mitchells bombed Lautem. Qver Fuiloro, where the Japanese have lately constructed an aerodrome, five Zeros attempted to drive off a formation of Mitchells. One enemy was damaged. From these actions it is apparent that the Japanese fighter strength in the area immediately north of Australia is on the increase. New Britain had three Allied raids on Wednesday. When a Liberator strafed three enemy barges they were beached near Cape Hollman at the tip of Willeumez Peninsula on the north coast. Enemy aerodromes at Gasmata and Cape Gloucester were raided. Madang. Finschafen, Lae and the Kumusi River mouth areas have again been attacked. Airfields, supplies and wl'arf areas were the targets.

A United States Navy communique states: "During the afternoon of January 13 a force of Flying' Fortresses, escorted by fighters, bombed a Japanese cargo ship anchored in the Shortland Island area. Two hits were scored on the vessel, which was left burning. Two enemy float type Zeros were shot down. One of our fighters failed to return. “During the period January 13 to 17 inclusive, 1032 Japanese were killed in various actions between United States and enemy forces on Guadalcanal.”