JAP CONVOY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 3, 5 January 1944, Page 5

JAP CONVOY

CRIPPLED BY ALLIED !• BOMBERS FIERCE AIR BATTLE OVER KAVIENG t (OfTicinl War Correspondent—N.Z.E.F.) Recd. 9.15 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 4. Two Japanese heavy cruisers were crippled and set afire and a destroyer badly damaged by American carrieibased planes which on Saturday attacked an enemy convoy near tne entrance to Kavienb Harbour, New Ireland. In an accompanying fierce air battle 11 of 30 Japanese fighters were shot down, with tour others probably destroyed. The enemy naval force, comprising two heavy cruisers and two destroyers, is believed to have come from tne main Japanese Pacific stronghold of Truk (about 1800 miles to the north). It was about to enter the harbour just before noo-.i when the carrier-based bombers and fighters attacked. Strong anti-aircraft fire and Japanese fighter interception failed to break up the American raiding formations, hits being scored on both heavy cruisers with torpedoes and 10001 b. bombs. A direct bomb hot was also scroed on one of the destroyers, which, like the cruisers, was burning fiercely when last sighted. Both destroyers were raked with cannon and machine-gun fire. Allied fighters later added a Japanese reconnaissance'bomber and an accompanying Zero to their day’s tally of enemy aircraft destroyed. Japanese air combat losses foj Saturday were brought to 31 machines when 18 Zeros were shot down over Rabaul, New Britain. Solomonsbased Liberators with fighter escort made a mid-day bombing attack on Lakunai aerodrome. Other enemy planes were probably destroyed. About 80 Zeros engaged an equal number of Allied aircraft. It has been officially announced from Washington that Ailieu aircraft are now operating aga.nst Rabaul from a newly-constructed airfield at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, only 250 miles . • ay. a his field is 850 miles from Trux. On land as well as in the air General MacArthur's communique to-day reports further Allied successes in the South-west Pacific area. The Americans who captured Saidor on the north-east New Gyinea coast on Sunday nave now secured their final objectives, having to overcome only light resistance to complete their task. Supporting aircraft, mainly Liberator-? and Bostons, have attacKed possible centres for a Japanese counter, attacking concentrations around Saidor with 126 tons of explosives. Madang, main target of the present New Guinea campaign, has been raided with a further 52 tons of bombs. Outflanked by the American landing at Saidor, the Japanese forces on the Huon Peninsula are in hasty retreat before the advancing Australians. Having captured Nuzen on Saturday, the Australians are now pushing on towards Wald Bay. Latest reports from Cape Gloucester, Western New Britain, says that tiie American Marines captured more Japanese stores when they advanced four miles west of the cape to Potni village on Saturday.

COSTLY BATTLES JAPANESE INTENTION Recd. 9 p.m. Washington, Jan. 3. “It is the avowed intention of the Japanese to make every battle as costly as possible to us, because they do not believe we can take it,” said Brigadier-General Edson, Chief of Start, discussing the Tarawa Island attack. “The Japanese are willing to take large losses in the hope that we will quit before we are able to defeat them. Thus far the Japanese have lost practically nothing except some shipping and casualties which are light compared with their total strength.”