JAP BOMBERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 63, 16 March 1942, Page 5

JAP BOMBERS

ATTACK ON ISLAND BASES OFF NORTHERN TIP OF QUEENSLAND R.A.A.F. PERSONNEL EVACUATED 'Rec. 8.20 p.m.) Melbourne, March 15. Japanese planes yesterday attacked islands near Thursday Island, 30 miles off the northern tip of Queensland. This is the nearest point enemy aircraft have approached eastern Australia. Thursday Island is one of a chain stretching from Cape York across Torres Strait toward New Guinea. The islands in the group attacked include Bank, Mulgrave, Jervis, Long Horn, Tuesday, Wednesday, Goode. Hammond. Friday, and Prince of Wales. All have native populations up to 500 of Papuan admixture. Cattle are raised on some, while natives on others co-operated with the Japanese in the pearling and trochus shell industry. The Air Minister stated that the raid on these islands, like that on Port Moresby on Friday, were not on a large scale. No report is available of damage or casualties. Four hundred R.A.A.F. men were evacuated from northern island bases under the noses of the Japanese. The rescues were made in two night flights by a fleet of Australian machines which were dispersed to the different island bases which had been pounded and bomb-pitted by enemy lighters. Many of those rescued were wounded. The task was carried out by the bombers under hazardous conditions and without lights. One fly-ing-boat lifted 100 men from one base.