CHAIN OF AIRFIELDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1943, Page 3

CHAIN OF AIRFIELDS

AND NAVAL ANCHORAGES FORGED BY JAPANESE NORTH AND NORTH-EAST OF AUSTRALIA. EXTENSION OF ALLIED ATTACKS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, January 28. Further evidence of the forging of a great chain of Japanese airfields and naval anchorages north and northeast of Australia is contained in General MacArthur’s latest, operational .report. The Allied air forces in the past 24 hours have attacked, enemy bases which were not previously mentioned in the communiques.

The 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 north-eastern tip of Arnheinj' Land. The casualties among the crew were light. The enemy bases which were attack-; ed included Faan and Roematt (in Kail Island) and also Aru Island in the Arafura Sea. Building and jetty areas were bombed by Hudsons at Faan and Roematt, while another formation of Hudsons bombed and machine-gunned enemy surface craft at Dobo. A direct bomb hit was scored on a lugger. To. the north-east of Australia, a raid which is reported today by Admiral Halsey's bombers on Ballale is the 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 bases in New Guinea at Lae and Salamaua were again heavily raided by Mitchells and Havocs with a Lightning escort. Beaufighters strafed the north New Guinea coast round the mouth of the Waria River between the Mambare River and Salamaua. The 103rd Japanese raid on Port Moresby was made by three bombers early yesterday morning. One of the attacking planes was hit by an Allied fighter and probably failed to reach its base. AMERICAN ADVANCE CONTINUED ON GUADALCANAL. LONDON, January 28. In the Solomons, the Americans’ advance on Guadalcanal continues, in spite of stiffening enemy resistance. JAPANESE PLANS FOR POWERFUL ATTACK ON AUSTRALIA. BELIEVED TO BE BREWING. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Enemy troops are being assembled at strategic points. Political correspondents state that the Commonwealth Government believes that a large-scale Japanese attack on Australia is brewing in the north. “Japan is again preparing to move southwards in the Pacific, this time on a scale far beyond her earlier attempts,” states the “Sydney Sun” political correspondent. Reports indicate that the Japanese are building up formidable transport forces. Because of the Japanese dominance of northern waters, it would take the enemy but little- time to rush the necessary naval protection southwards, when preparations are completed for jumping off. Enemy aerodromes are being completed at strategic positions, to enable longer range aerial raids on Allied outposts. The Federal Ministry is being kept closely in touch with the developments in an explosive situation, and there is a feeling that this time Japan will attempt to overcome her earlier mistakes by moving in what she hopes will be an overwhelming force.