RABAUL AREA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 274, 19 November 1943, Page 5

RABAUL AREA

MORE JAPANESE LOSSES BOMBERS CONCENTRATE ON [ SHIPPING | 'Special Australian CorreniKJn-ent — N.Z.P.A.j Recd. 10.20 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 18. | Allied bombers continue to concen-! trate their attacks against enemy i shipping movements in South-west J Pacific waters. Another Japanese convoy making for Rabaul h i been bombed. This and other strikes reported by General MacArthur’s communique today achieved the following results: — A 6000-ton cargo ship damaged by two direct hits; three coastal vessels sunk and one damaged; a 2500-ton freighter hit and left sinking; twelve barges destroyed and. seven damaged. The communique also reports the destruction of eight Japanese planes, with three others probably destroyed. The 6000-ton cargo ship was a unit of a Rabaul-bound convoy comprising two destroyers, four corvettes and two freighters. Catalinas attacked on Monday night, when the ships were just north of Rabaul. They scored two hits on the vessel, one with a 10001 b. bomb and one with a 2501 b. bomb. While the Japanese continue to move shipping to Rabaul, persistent night bombing attacks have forced them to change their tactics at the base. Before nightly sweeps were begun enemy ships at Rabaul were dispersed each night in St. George Channel. Now they are kept huddled in Simpson Harbour with a protective ring of anti-aircraft guns and searchlights. . s _.. . Also operating in the New Britain area, R.A.A.F. Beaufighters strafed and ’sank three coastal vessels. A Liberator was responsible for the probable destruction of .a 2500-ton cargo ship at Hansa Bay, north-east New Guinea. Two direct bomb hits left the vessel sinking by the stern and surrounded by a large oil slick. The main destruction of Japanese aircraft reported In to-day’s communique occurred in a 30-minute battle over Wewak. north-east New Guinea, when American Thunderbolt highaltitude fighters scored a spectacular victory over a batch of 20 Zeros. Five Zeros were shot down, with three others probably destroyed.