RABAUL IN DANGER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 6, 8 January 1944, Page 5

RABAUL IN DANGER

TOKIO ADMISSION ALLIED FIGHTER SWEEPS 'By Telegraph—Prese Association—Copyright) Recd. 9.5 p.m. Sydney, Jan. 7. The great Japanese supply base of Rabaul, New Britain, is in grave danger, says an admission by Tokio radio. “Our position in the South-west Pacific has become very serious in the past few days and the menace# to Rabaul has pecome acute,” the radio declared. “Our forces have been placed at a disadvantage since the enemy has now mastery of the air and dominates our supply lines. The enemy also has at his uisposai numerals aerodromes.” A further sweep over Rabaul by Allied Solonions-based fighters is reported in General MacArthur's communique to-day. Of 30 intercepting Zeros 10 were shot down ana live others probably destroyed. We lost one Corsair. These persistent Allied fighter sweeps, based on the Empress Augusta Bay air-strip, Bougainville Island, are forcing the Japanese lighters to engage in combat. Such tactics prevent the Japanese from building up reserves of airpower at Rabaul. The enemy no sooner brings in tresh air strength to Rabaul than it is forced to ii.gnt by our challenging sweeps. Kavieng, New Ireland, is also ieeling the effects of the increased Allied air pressure promised by General MacArthur recently. In the latest strike against this enemy base, made on Tuesday morning, American carrieroased aircraft badly damaged two Japanese destroyers and shot down nine enemy .planes. The destroyers ; were caught in the harbour ana hit by both torpedoes and 10001 b. bombs. One Allied plane was lost and others damaged. Other Japanese shipping has been attacked by Beaufighters at Koepang, Timor, where a schooner loadea witu troops was left burning on Tuesday. In land fighting of mounting fury the American Marines on Cape Gloucester have slaughtered a further 600 Japanese in an all-day battle in the Borgen Bay area. The total of enemy killed counted at Cape Gloucester since the Mannes landea on December 26 is now nearly 2000, but the actual numoer ot Japanese casualties may have been lour times that tig ire.

In their present push to drive the enemy troops back irom their Borgen Bay strongholds the Marines have strong artillery and tank as well as direct air support. The Japanese, whose strength is believed to have come from the interior, the country is rugged and heavily timbered, are also making increased use of artillery. No reports have been received of the land operations at Arawe, Southern New Britain, where the Americans who landed on December 15 are consolidating their hold of the Cape Merkus Peninsula area. At Saidor, the northern New Guinea beach-head established by the Americans last Sunday, our patrols have made their first contact with the enemy at Cape Iris. The Australians driving up the Huon Peninsula to make contact with the Americans at Saidor, about 70 miles distant, are now 12 air miles irom Sio, important enemy barge base. Fleeing Japanese troops are believed to be trying to reach Sio in an effort to evacuate the peninsula. All their land avenues of escape have been closed by the Allied forces on the Huon Peninsula at Saidor and in the Ramu Valley. Madang, Japanese supply base, just 55 miles north-west of Saidor, and nearby Alexishafen have been hit with 243 tons of bombs. During the past fortnight the area has been the target for almost daily aerial attacks. Allied patrol boats have taken additional toll of enemy barge traffic along this coast. JAPANESEJPUNISHED ALLIED AIR "STRENGTH OVER THE MARSHALLS Recd. 10.25 p.m. New York, Jan. 6. The Seventh Air Force is inflicting severe punishment on the Japanese in the Marshalls. Our losses are kept below the “no profit” level, said Bri-gadier-General Flood to the New York Times* representative at a Central Pacific base. General Flood predicted that the United States would maintain air superiority there despite the advantageous strategic position of the Japanese, who can send reinforcements almost at will by staging fighter planes to a forward position across many island bases. Brigadier-General Flood added: “We have the Japanese on the run here and General Kenny nas them on the run in the South-west Pacific." General Flood explained that th? Seventh Air Force was using pinpoint navigation to find and raid infinitesimal islands which are no larger than some individual targets in Berlin. LOSSES AT TARAWA LOWER THAN ANNOUNCED Reed. 6 p.m. New York, Jan, 6.‘ The total casualties of the Marines in the Tarawa landing are somewhat less than the previously-announced figure of 3583, said the Director of Navy Pacific Relations, Capt. Lovette. The casualty reports, which were still coming in, show that some men who were resumed dead have turned up alive, an:l others who were reported missing were found many miles distant with other units. The Navy announced that there were 269 survivors’ from the escortcarrier Liscombe Bav. which was sunk on November 24. The total complement was not disclosed because she was a new type of ship, concerning which the Japanese presumably have scenlv knowledge “The Axis can still win if the .Tananose and German neoplos tide themselves coolly and calmly over the present war crisis.” said Gcebbels in an interview with* Jananes? correspondents in Berlin, quoted by Tokio radio. “Th? war may last for many years, hut we must fight on to victory. Otherwise the gold?n onnortunl< v nf crushing Britain and America will not visit us *or many cenfvilcs. “The .Tananes? .and Germans may retreat for strategic jeasnns and certain eircumstnnces. hut this will not affect our chances of victory." Ci?i rn-' AT»fpj COMING ! “WHERE TOXIO USED TO BE” Re , 1 11 p.m. Lo> Angeles Jan. 7 “ I’li ■ now< r- tha* be de<”ded to con. C“iitratf* on the other side. «o wo iwait nur turn but after th'* b->v S roll iin Fii’-ope the South Pacific v ||» Htianti'ie of r’en ond material and soon the-onf'?’* ther' •• i’l be •» bi’ -•» ••p’cbrnfiOn wb n r<‘ Tokio use.l to be.” Tlii was staled bv Admiral Halsey at a Pi 'ss conference on Ids return to the United States for the first time since June. 1942. Commenting mi the South Pacific situation, Admiral Halsev said h»-