HEAVY BLOW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 219, 16 September 1943, Page 5

HEAVY BLOW

JAP AERODROMES IN WEWAK AREA ATTACKED BY ALLIED BOMBERS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Recd. 9.10 p.m. Sydney, Sept. 15. Attacking the Japanese aerodromes in the Wewak area, New Guinea, on Monday, Allied heavy bombers with a strong escort of fighters left 20 to 25 enemy aircraft blazing on the ground. About 40 Japanese lighters intercepted. Eight of them were shot down and four others were probably destroyed. Three Allied fighters were lost. This heavy blow at Japanese air strength in New Guinea rs reported in to-day’s communique from General MacArthur. The planes destroyed were reinforcements recently flown in the area. The raiders concentrated 63 tons of bombs on runways and dispersal areas at But and Dagua, causing numerous fires with accompanying explosions among grounded aircraft and fuel dumps. The Japanese in the last four weeks have lost nearly 400 planes in a series of devastating attacks on the Wewak aerodromes. The communique also reports Ihat 15 Japanese bombers with fighter cover attacked the Watut area, near Wau, causing negligible damage and casualties. Our fighters intercepted and in a running battle shot down one bomber and one fignter and probably destroyed another fighter. One Allied plane failed to return. Australian troops advancing on Lac from the east have destroyed two Japanese strongpoints and captured New Yanga. They are now within a mile of Malahang aerodrome, important enemy strongpoint about three miles from their base. A duel is being fought between Australian and Japanese artillery.

Allied forces pushing along the Markham Valley road threw the Japanese from two prepared positions near Whittaker's. Co-operating with the ground forces, medium bombers attacked enemy installations along the south bank of the Markham River. A raid by 12 Japanese bombers on Allied installations near the Burep River caused minor damage and casualties. In the Salamaua area small scattered groups of Japanese are fleeing into the hills and jungle many miles north-west of Salamaua itselL Their eventual annihilation is certain. Activity in the Solomons was limited to reconnaissance.

JAPANESE MORALE

WEAKENING IN NEW GUINEA Recd. 6.15 p.m. New York, Sept. 14. The Japanese are showing a nervousness and indecision not previously observed in New Guinea, says Frank Kluckhohn, the New York Times war correspondent in the South-west Pacific. Their morale is not what it was in the Buna campaign six months ago. The obvious weakening of their morale is due to a series of reverses. In addition, malaria, bush typhus, and other diseases are taking a heavier toll of the Japanese than the Allies. One thing is certain —we have found the answer lo successful fighting in this area in co-ordinated amphibious, land, and air operations, and having more of the necessary implements for it than the Japanese. The bringing in and supplying of a very large body of Australian troop!; at two points along the lar.* cise of Lae’s defences was one of the greatest achievements in any war theatre.