DETAILS OF ENCOUNTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 234, 4 October 1943, Page 5

DETAILS OF ENCOUNTER

Recd. 750 p.m. Sydney, Oct. J. American Librator bombers sank three Japanese ships, Including a destroyer, in an attack on a convoy in Bougainville Strait, in tre centra! Solomons, on Thursday night. A fourth large ship received two direct 'nits on the stern The convoy of eleven ships was attempting to run Admiral Halsey's blockade. General MacArthur’s communique, reporting the attack, says one ship was destroyed by an explosion followed by fires visible for 20 miles. Another ship when hit capsized and sank. The destroyer exploded after four direct hits. A South Pacific war correspondent reports that it was the first attempt by the Japanese for more than two months to sneak anything larger than a barge through Admiral Halsey’s blockade. The convoy, comprising destroyers and several troop and cargo vessels, was spotted late in the afternoon coming down from Buka Island. Liberators roared up from the south and at 7.30 p.m. began a series of attacks which lasted for an hour. Moonless tropic darkness made observation of destruction difficult. In Vella Gulf Allied naval surface units caught a force of enemy barges attempting a blockade run between Choiseul and Kolombangara Islands, sinking nine and severely damaging five others. An escorting enemy plane wau shot down. A strong force of Admiral Halsey’s bombers blasted a Japanese barge depot at Kakasa, In Choiseul Island, causing heavy damage and starting fires. Fighters strafed enemy barges off the coast. Off Bougainville Island an Allied reconnaissance aircraft intercepted and shot down a Japanese medium bomber.

American ground forces on Vella Lavella are steadily closing in on the remaining enemv groups at the north end of the island. The enemy i-s attempting to use parachutes to deliver supplies. The Americans wiped out 90 Japanese attempting to escape from a surrounded position. General MacArthur's bombers in the South-west Pacific area damaged a 2000-ton enemy freighter at Kavieng, New Ireland.