BOMBER SWEEPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 194, 15 August 1944, Page 5

BOMBER SWEEPS

ACTIONS AGAINST JAPAN [Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recd. 7.35 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 14. Allied Bombers sweeping the Molucca Sea, between New Guinea and the Philippines, have destroyed or damaged 24 Japanese merchantmen during the past fortnight. They have also sunk and damaged shipping in Philippine's waters. The main attacks have centred around Halmahera, on the direct line from Dutch New Guinea to Mindanao (Philippines). Halmahera, pnly 350 miles south of the Philippines, was an important Japanese staging base at tile height of the enemy advance in the South-west Pacific. It still has a large garrison and the shipping attacked there during the past fortnight has been that normally required to service these troops. The main anchorages are in Kao Bay, a wide stretch of water at the north of the island General MacArthur’s communique to-day gives details of the latest blows against enemy shipping at Halmahera. Catalina flying-boats left

a 1000-ton freighter burning on Friday night- while Mitchell med-ium bombers scored direct hits on a 3000ton vessel. Luggers and barges were also attacked.

In Davao Gulf (Mindanao) a United States Navy Liberator sank a 3000-ton freighter. This area ha s been visited by Allied bombers six times in the past week.

Only light casualties have been inflicted on American, troops fighting near Aitape, British New Guinea, where General Adachi's Japanese 18th. Army is being annihilated. The official statement of American casualties is: 285 killed, 995 wounded, 23 missing. The enemy casualties ar? at least 14 times as great. Counted Japanese dead number more than 8000 and his total casualties are estimated to exceed 18,000.