BOMB WEWAK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 201, 26 August 1943, Page 5

BOMB WEWAK

ALLIED STRATEGY TOWN AND AERODROME AREAS HEAVILY POUNDED (By Telegraph—Prow Association—Copyright) Reed. 10.20 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 25. More than 100 Allied planes yesterday made a record raid on Wewak, key Japanese base on the north New Guinea coast. Liberators escorted by Lightning fighters dropped 112 tons of bombs in a swift attack on the town and aerodrome areas. General MacArthur’s communique reports that much damage resulted and numerous fires and explosions were observed. Twenty Zeros which were in the air showed reluctance to engage but one was shot down. In actions during the past week the Japanese have lost more than 300 planes around Wewak. Forced back by the Allied pressure, the Japanese at Salamaua continue to withdraw. No fresh information on the land situation in this area is given in to-day's communique. Allied aircraft in the Solomons continue to keep close watch on enemy ship movements. Shortly before dusk yesterday a Liberator attacked a Japanese cruiser south-east of Buka, Bougainville Island. The warship put up a smokescreei and fled into the darkness. Jus* before midnight one of our reconnaissance planes about 40 miles west of Buka dropped bombs on an enemy convoy of ten vessels headed north.

Two daylight attempts were made by enemy fighters to attack Vella Lavella. Central Solomons, on Monday. Our fighters shot down nine of the enemy planes, including seven Zeros, and damaged two others.

War correspondents in the Solomons report that American troops who landed on Vella Lavella ten days ago have now cleared the southern area of the island of Japanese. On New Georgia the Japanese positions at Bairoko Harbour are now within range of Allied artillery.