SEVERAL SHIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1943, Page 3

SEVERAL SHIPS

INCLUDING DESTROYER & CORVETTE SUNK BY JAPANESE IN SOLOMONS FIGURE OF ENEMY LOSSES CORRECTED. THIRTY-FOUR AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN. LONDON, April 9. Washington announces that Wednesday’s Japanese air attack on Allied shipping off Guadalcanal, in the Solomons, resulted in the sinking of one destroyer, one corvette, one tanker and one small fuel boat. The losses of Japanese aircraft are now known to be 34, not 37 as previously announced. The American air offensive is being continued, with an attack on Japanese positions in the Shortland Island area. Flying Fortresses were among the raiding force. HEAVY DAMAGE DONE TO JAPANESE BARGES. ATTACK BY SINGLE ALLIED PLANE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, April 9. A single R.A.A.F. Hudson made Thursday’s bombing and strafing attack on a group of 12 Japanese supply barges off Kaukenau on the south coast of Dutch New Guinea. The presence of these barges is not regarded as indicative of any fresh move by the enemy. Kaukenau is one of the most easterly points of enemy expansion on the southern coast of Dutch New Guinea, but the Japanese are believed to have constructed an airstrip still closer to the Allied base of Merauke. General MacArthur’s communique sta-“North-western sector of Dutch New Guinea, Timika: One of our medium units bombed the airfield. Kaukenau: One of our reconnaissance bombers sighted and attacked a group of enemy supply barges with patrol boat escort moving east off the coast. Direct bomb hits were scored and the entire flotilla was strafed for an hour. Fires were started on an armed escort vessel and on three of the barges. The remainder were severely damaged. Aroe Islands: One of our medium units strafed a number of enemy coastal vessels in the Arafura Sea. Tanibar Island, Saumlaki: One of our medium units bombed and strafed the jetty area. “North-eastern sector, New Ireland, Kavieng: One of our heavy units bombed the new Panapai aerodrome. New Britain, Übili area: One of our heavy units bombed and strafed enemy installations at Ulamona. New Guinea, Finschhafen: One of our heavy units bombed and strafed the area.’’