ALLIED ATTACKS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 121, 25 May 1942, Page 5

ALLIED ATTACKS

JAP. BASES RAIDED

Navy Needed To Meet New

Threat In Coral Sea

Spec i al „ Australian Correspondent.

United Press Association.—-Copyright

SYDNEY, May 24. . Allied air forces are maintaining their attacks on enemy concentrations at Lae, in New Guinea, and Rabaul, in New Britain, the main Japanese bases of operations against Port Moresby. The latest High Command communique reports two Japanese heavy bombers destroyed, six badly damaged and five fighters destroyed in Friday's raids, as well as an oil tanker and a transport hit. In the raid on Lae two enemy bombers were destroyed on the aerodrome, while a tanker in the harbour was severely damaged. Eight Zero fighters intercepted our planes and five of the enemy were shot down. All our planes returned. At Rabaul six enemy heavy bombers were badly damaged and a large transport in the" harbour left in a crippled condition. Attempts by enemy fighters to intercept our bombers failed.

The attack on Lae again took the enemy by surprise, but a pack of bandit Zeros intercepted our planes just as they were about to leave for home. However, as an American war correspondent states, "they found our modern bombers with tail turrets were not basement bargains for fighter pilots." While five enemy fighters were shot down, none of our planes was seriously damaged. The single casualty was a reargunner wounded.

Some of America's newest and fastest long-range bombers are now in operation against the enemy. Their speed is said to be comparable with that of the Zero fighter. The planes were shipped to Australia in crates, assembled, and then flown thousands of miles to their operational bases. Their range is 2000 miles, and they carry three tons of bombs.

Second Coral Sea Battle Awaited The extensive reconnaissance activities of our air force, also reported details of these reconnaissances covering thousands of miles each day, have not been released. While comment is guarded generally, it is conceded that the lull following the Coral Sea battle is unlikely to continue much longer. The need of still heavier air and naval strengths is generally emphasised. "The second battle of the Coral Sea will not be won by planes alone," says the Daily Telegraph in an editorial article. Stronger Japanese naval units will come down next time and we shall need land-based bombers, aircraft carriers and powerful warships. We cannot feel secure in these waters until a big British and American Fleet regains absolute control in the South-west Pacific." Commenting on a Japanese report that a powerful American Task Force, including the aircraft carriers Hornet and Enterprise, was this we.sk fewer than 600 miles east of the Solomons, the Australian correspondent of the American news magazine Time said: "If the Japanese could be believed, the South Pacific is lapped at the edges by a naval and air battle that could make the Coral Sea show look like a mere setting-up exercise."

Australian observers concur with the American belief that Japan, in releasing alleged details of the Coral Sea battle, is seeking information. No attempt is made here to define Japanese South-west Pacific territorial ambitions, although it is generally agreed that her main preoccupation at the moment is to cut the United States-Australia supply line, thus neutralising Australia as a base for future Allied jffensive operations.