JAPANESE ARMADA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 2, 4 January 1943, Page 5

JAPANESE ARMADA

REPORTED NEAR RABAUL (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) (Recd. 8.5 p.m.) Sydney, Jan. 3. The Japanese have concentrated a great armada near Rabaul, New Britain. It is described as “no ordinary collection of ships” and is believed, to include many merchantmen which could be used as transports. Japanese activities are causing speculation. Observers believe the Rabaul concentration may be intended to relieve the hard-pressed Japanese forces on Guadalcanar or for a fresh Papuan landing. Two of ten enemy ships set afire at Rabaul last week by General MacArthur’s bombers were transports, seven were freighters and one was a heavy cruiser. The enemy merchant shipping sunk or destroyed aggregated 67,000 tons. The fourth raid of the week on shipping at this key Japanese bas. was made early on Friday morning. Direct hits with 10001 b. bombs wer. scored on three ships aggregating 24,000 Yons.

Six Flying Fortrasses and Liberators made the raid. All three ships were observed to be burning fiercely. Two of five intercepting Zeros were shot down.”

“The Japanese are again ready to hazard great losses in order to relieve their beleaguered soldiers on Guadalcanar,” says the New York Times’ Washington correspondent. “In view of the activity of the American Air Force military experts do not fear thnt such an attack would he successful, but they do not minimise the strength which Japan is likely to use. It is also notable that the Japanese arc not using fighters in the South Pacific but are relying almost solely on flak to keep our bombers at a high altitude This is interpreted to mean that they are husbanding their fighter strength for strafing operations rather than sacrifice them in fruitless attacks against American bombers."

Widespread Allied air attacks on enemy bases continued on Friday and Saturday. At Kide Bay, south of Rabaul, a Japanese submarine was damaged. In a raid on the Gasmata airfield, Flying Fortresses dropped 10001 b. bombs on runways and dispersal bays, destroying at least one grounded Zero. The Japanese aerodrome at Buin, northern Solomons, was also attacked, while Lae aerodrome, New Guinea, was the target for 1000pounders. Numerous fires were started. The town area at Salamaua was raided. Japanese bombers again attacked -the Allied port of Merauke on the south coast of Dutch New Guinea.