U.S. PLANES SINK DESTROYER

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23968, 8 June 1943, Page 5

U.S. PLANES SINK DESTROYER

ATTACK ON JAPANESE SHIPS FIFTEEN ZEROS SHOT DOWN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 6. A United States Navy communique says: “Fortresses early on Saturday morning bombed enemy installations at Kahili, in the Buin area of the Solomons. About noon on the same day a formation of dive-bombers and torpedo-bombers, escorted by Warhawks, Corsairs, and Lightnings, attacked a Japanese destroyer, a corvette, and a cargo vessel in the Bougainville area. Several large-calibre bomb hits were scored on the destroyer, which undoubtedly sank. The corvette and the cargo ship were set on fire. “The American aeroplanes were engaged by a large force of Zeros. The Americans shot down 15 Zeros and damaged three more for the loss of four of their own aircraft. “American bombers and fighters on Friday made five attacks on Kiska Island, in the Aleutians, scoring hits on buildings and gun emplacements.”

JAPANESE RAID ON WAU

LITTLE DAMAGE AND NO CASUALTIES (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 7. Wau, the Allied base in northern New Guinea, was raided by Japanese aircraft for the eleventh time on Sunday morning. The attack was made by 16 dive-bombers escorted by four fighters. The aerodrome was the target, but the raiders caused only negligible damage and no casualties. One enemy aeroplane was hit by our anti-aircraft fire and was last seen smoking and losing height. To-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters does not record any attempted interception by Allied fighters. Australian-based Liberators bombed Koepang, in Timor, and the nearby Penfoei aerodrome. They shot down three of eight intercepting Zeros without loss to themselves and started widespread fires and explosions in the barracks and town area. The waterfront was soon completely obscured by smoke from fires. This is the only Allied offensive activity reported throughout the south-west Pacific on Sunday.

JAPAN’S LOSSES OF SHIPPING

MR CHURCHILL’S COMMENT (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 7. • The Japanese did not have the power to make up their losses in merchant shipping, said Mr Churchill, discussing the Far Eastern war at a press conference at Algiers. He added that the Japanese air force was “just treading water.” MUNITION SHIP AND TANKER COLLIDE BOTH VESSELS LOST AND 83 MEN MISSING (Rec, 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 6. The United States Navy Department has announced the loss of a merchant ship laden with ammunition and also a tanker, as a result of a collision off the east coast a few days ago. Eighty three persons are missing. Sixty-seven survivors have been landed at Norfolk, Virginia. Those missing comprise eight of the crew and 10 Navy gunners from the tanker and 40 of the crew and 25 gunners from the merchant ship. The munition ship exploded, and immediately after the collision the tanker burst into flames. It is officially stated that the tanker did not sink, although she was enveloped in flames from stem to stern. The Associated Press reveals that the collision occurred at dawn on June 1. Survivors said that the vessels were proceeding in opposite directions on parallel courses when the freighter veered sharply and rammed the tanker. The explosion showered debris on the deck of another ship a quarter of a mile away. The fire aboard the tanker destroyed all her lifeboats before they could be lowered, compelling those who survived the explosion to jump into the sea. Only three were saved of the merchantman’s entire complement. They are critically injured.

RAIDS ACROSS CHANNEL

BRITISH COAST TOWN ATTACKED (8.0. W.) RUGBY. June 6. The Air Ministry reports: “In offensive operations by aircraft of the Fighter Command to-day, Whirlwinds bombed and set on fire two enemy minesweepers in the Channel, and Spitfires of a Canadian squadron attacked railway targets in Brittany. None of our aircraft is missing.’’ An agency report says that a locomotive was derailed, and five other locomotives damaged, during to-day’s resumed attacks on enemy land transport in northern France by Whirlwinds, Typhoons, and Spitfires of the Royal Air Force. About 14 enemy fighter-bombers this afternoon attacked a place on the south-east coast of England, causing some damage and a small number of casualties, including some killed. Spitfires destroyed at least one of the raiders.

AIR ATTACKS ON U-BOATS CHANGE IN GERMAN TACTICS SEEN (Rcc. 7 p.m.) LONDON, June 6. “U-boat commanders are believed to be becoming desperate as a result of Allied aircraft successes,” says the aeronautical writer of the “Daily Mail.” “The U-boats' after their recent losses seem to have changed’ their tactics, and when surprised by aeroplanes they no longer dive immediately, but more frequently try to fight it out on the surface. “The U-boat crews’ improved gunnery has convinced a number of fly-ing-boat captains that the Germans are specially training anti-aircraft gunners for service aboard submarines. a changed policy due to Increasing losses.”

Social Security in U.S.—Outlining improvements in the American system of social security which the newlyintroduced Wagner-Murray Bill would provide, the chairman of the Social Security Board (Mr A. J. Altmeyer) said that if the bill were adopted demobilised men would get unemployment insurance instead of the dole during the conversion period of industry. They would be eligible for unemployment benefits of from 12 to 30 dollars a week, according to the number of dependants.—Washington, June 6.