ATTACKING SHIPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 62, 16 March 1943, Page 5

ATTACKING SHIPS

BOMBERS HAMPERED BY DISTANCE (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.J Recd. 6.30 pm. Sydney, March 15. Japanese shipping movements about the perimeter of their island defences were not seriously checked by the annihilation of the Bismarck Sea convoy. This fact is made increasingly clear by reports from General MacArthur’s headquarters. The eight ships carrying reinforcements to the enemy garrison at Wewak are thought to be one of two convoys reported by reconnaissance last Thursoay 100 miles north-east of Manus Island in the Admiralty group. If, as seems probable, Wewak was the destination tor one of these convoys it follows that the ships made a cautious detour through the northern waters of the Bismarck Sea in order to keep outside the effective range of our bombers. Despite the extreme range, our scout bombers endeavoured to stalk the enemy vessels, ultimately sighting a group of eight ships oft Wewak about noon on Saturday. Their protecting umbrella of Zeros was probably drawn from the Wewak airfields.

When the first Fortress bombers dived on the convoy by moonlight on Saturday night it was 45 miles northwest ot Wewak. It is probable the ships waited at sea for nightfall to screen their dash into haroour. The distance ot the target is reported to oe preventing the use of the fast shuttle bombing tactics which smashed the enemy’s 22-ship convoy a fortnight ago. From their bases our heavy bombers must make a round trip of more than 1000 miles. increased enemy activity is also reported in the Dutch New Guinea area. At R.A.A.F. Bay, on the south coast near Cape Vandenbusch, four Japanese cargo ships, each ot about 4000 tons, were seen during the week-end. One of these was attacked by an Allied heavy bomber, but the results were not observed.

The Japanese have been active in Dutch New Guinea for some months. I'hey have occupied the port of Kaukenau on the south coast and are known to be using the airfields and seaplane bases which served the Dutch amphibian service in peacetime. At Babo, on McLeur Inlet, during the week-end, a Liberator shot down one of six intercepting Zeros. "This increased interest in the western quarter ot New Guinea,” says the Sydney Morning Herald war correspondent, “has been concurrent witn Japan's building of as many airstrips as possible above the highwater mark on the little islands ot the Aru, Kei, and Tenimber groups between Dutch New Guinea and Darwin."