NEW TARGETS FOR BOMBERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22492, 29 January 1943, Page 5

NEW TARGETS FOR BOMBERS

More Japanese Bases Found Small Allied Ship Sunk N.Z.P.A. —Special Australian Correspondent (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 28. Further evidence of the forging of a great chain of Japanese airfields and naval anchorages north and north-east of Australia is contained in General MacArthur’s latest operational report. The Allied air forces in the last 24 hours attacked enemy bases not previously mentioned in communiques. Japanese air activity has been light, but a small Allied merchant vessel is reported to have been sunk by enemy bombers off Wessel Island, near the northeastern tip of Arnheim Land. Casualties among the crew were light. The new enemy bases attacked included Faan and Foematt (Kai Island) and Aru Island in the Arafura Sea. Building and jetty areas were bombed by Hudsons at Faan and Foematt, while another formation of Hudsons bombed and machine-gunned enemy surface craft at Dobo. A direct bomb hit was scored on a lugger. First Disclosure To the north-east of Australia a raid reported to-day by Admiral Halsey’s bombers on Ballale was thj first disclosure that the Japanese have succeeded in establishing an airfield on that Island. Ballale is three miles north-east of Shortland Island and 295 north-west of Henderson airfield on Guadalcanal. The main Japanese New Guinea bases, Lae and Salamau, were again heavily raided by Mitchells and Havocs with an escort of Lightnings. Beaufighters strafed the North New Guinea coast around the mouth of the Waria River, between the Mambare River and Salamaua. The one hundred and third raid on Port Moresby was made by three bombers early on Wednesday morning. One of the attacking planes was hit by an Allied fighter and probably failed to reach its base. The implication of the continued widespread Allied bombing activity is that the Japanese are making rapid progress in forging a chain of island bases. This arc swings down from the Celebes through Timor, Kei, Aru and Tenimber islands along the North New Guinea coast and out through New Britain to the northern Solomons on the eastern flank. “With the Papuan campaign in full swing and the spotlight focussed on the grim struggle for jungle strong points, the activity in these islands has been eclipsed by a more spectacular fight,” writes the South-west Pacific war correspondent oi the Sydney “Sun,” “but the Japanese have not forgotten about them. The enemy has been steadily building up for what ever he plans next.” Headache for Enemy If the United Nations can increase their present rate of ship sinkings Japan will be unable to replace them before 1944, says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times,” according to information reaching the United States. If the rate is not increased new shipyards will be producing at least the rate of current losses by June. Shipping, the serious shortage of skilled workers, coal transport difficulties preventing the expansion of steel production are serious headaches in Japan’s war programme. A United States Navy communique states: “American aircraft were attacked by eight Zeros during a reconnaissance over Wake Island on Monday. Two Zeros are believed to have been destroyed. Flying Fortresses bombed the airfield at Ballaile, in the Shortland area on Tuesday.