RAIDS ON DUTCH NEW GUINEA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23971, 11 June 1943, Page 5

RAIDS ON DUTCH NEW GUINEA

BIG EXPLOSION AT JAPANESE BASE ISLAND IN BISMARCK SEA BOMBED (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 10. Continued heavy weather throughout the south-west Pacific area on Wednesday limited Allied air activity almost entirely to armed reconnaissance. Liberators, however, made damaging strikes against Nabire and Manokwari, on the north coast of Dutch New Guinea, and a Flying Fortress bombed Unea Island, in the Vitu group, in the Bismarck Sea. Nabire, which has an airstrip and small port facilities, was attacked with 5001b bombs. General MacArthur’s communique says that a terrific explosion occurred when two large buildings, apparently munitions warehouses, received direct hits. Our aircraft flying at 12,000 feet were jarred, and the resulting fires were visible for 75 miles. Huge columns of smoke rose to 8000 feet. Unea Island is a new objective for Allied air attack. The Japanese are believed to have occupied the inland only recently, and in the last few weeks some buildings have been erected. The enemy is possibly contemplating the construction of an airstrip there. Japanese ships have been observed in the Vitu group from time to time. There is no fresh news of the New Guinea land fighting in the Mubo area. A virtual stalemate has continued in the area for a few weeks. Both sides are pushing out occasional patrols, but no heavy clashes have been reported.