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Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23013, 3 October 1944, Page 5

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Japanese Freighters Sunk Catalinas Have Good Week By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Rec. 7.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 2. In six nights United States Navy Catalina flying-boats operating from South-west Pacific bases have sunk oi damaged 73,000 tons of Japanese shipping. Their prizes include 13 medium to large-sized freighters sunk, and nine others damaged. The latest attacks were made on Saturday when a 10,000-ton tanker was crippled, an 8500-ton freighter sunk, and a number of smaller vessels were either destroyed or damaged. All the kills were made between the Philippines ar.i the Celebes, and the presence of such j, large volume of enemy shipping suggests that th. Japanese are making desperate efforts to supply and perhaps reinforce their bases in this salient. Some of the vessels destroyed had been loaded With vital aviation fuel. The loss of the tankers and several large freighters of between 8000 and 10,000 tons is a severe blow to the sorely-taxed Japanese merchant marine. The Catalina which sank an 8500ton freighter in Timor Strait (Southeast Celebes) on Saturday night made its way safely back to its base with one engine blown off by anti-aircraft fire. Other attacks reported by General MacArthur’s communque tb-day included 100 sorties against the remnants of the Japanese Second Army in the Vogelbop area, Dutch New Guinea. A raid was made on Manokwari, formerly the main base for the Japanese Second Army and still held by a fairly strong enemy garrison. Fighting On Bougainville Land fighting has again flared up at Bougainville, in the Nothem Solomons. American troops on Thursday engaged Japanese patrols north and east of the b’~ Allied base at Torokina, on the east coast of Bougainville. This is the first land action reported at Bougainville for five months. Twenty thousand Japanese are officially estimated to be isolated on the island. They have no hope of escape. For months Allied bombers have carried out a war of, attrition against these Japanese. The enemy forces encountered on Thursday were repulsed after suffering casualties.