RAIDS NORTH OF AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23977, 18 June 1943, Page 5

RAIDS NORTH OF AUSTRALIA

ALLIES BOMB BASE IN CELEBES OPERATIONS OVER NEW GUINEA (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY. June 17. A Flying Fortress fought off 15 Zeros over Buka Passage, iri the northeastern Solomons on Wednesday morning. It returned to its base, badly damaged and with five of its crew casualties. This battle is mentioned in to-day s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters. The Fortress was on a reconnaissance mission when it was attacked at an altitude of 25,000 feet. However, our bomber fought off the formidable enemy fighter force and brought _ back valuable photographs. No claim is made that any of the attacking Zeros were shot down. The latest aerial reconnaissance over Rabaul shows a slight decrease in the powerful enemy aircraft concentrations on the aerodromes in the area. There are, however, indications of concentrations of varying sizes at the Kahili, Ballale, and Faisi aerodromes, and on Buka Island, all in the northern Solomons. Our reconnaissance pilots also report evidence of Japanese air strength round Wewak, on the north coast of New Guinea. The biggest Allied raid reported in to-day’s communique was made' on Kendari, the main enemy base in the Celebes. Australian-based Liberators dropped 16 tons of bombs on the aerodrome there. An Australian war correspondent who accompanied the raiders reports that the Japanese defences were apparently taken by surprise. Numerous explosions occurred among parked aircraft, and direct hits were scored on administration installations. Fires started were visible for 50 miles. Raid on Koepang Seven raids by Allied aircraft are reported in the latest south-west Pacific cotnnjunique. Our medium bombers started fires in a night raid bn the tOWri Area of Koepang, on Timor. In the Markham Valley, northern New Quinba, Beaufighters Strafed Boana village and nearby areas. Enemy aircraft were also active over this territory. Six bombers escorted by six Zeros attacked two native villages on the Rarhu river. On Wednesday it was reported that Japanese aeroplanes raided Beriaberia, about 90 air miles north-west of Lae. This is at the headwaters of the Purari river, which flows into the Gulf of Papua hear Kerema, and df the Ramu river, which flows out bn the north New Guinea coast near Nubia. The Markham river, which empties into the Huon Gulf, also rises from this source. The country is high plateau land. Three enemy bombers also raided the Buna area of Papua, dropping* bombs inland from Buna as well as at Cape Sud-est. They caused no damage or casualties. Allied Bostons made 31 strafing passes and dropped bombs along Buigap creek, north of Mubo. A Mitchell medium bomber attacked a Japanese power-boat in the Finschhafen area, and a Catalina bomber the aerodrome at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. AIR ATTACKS IN SOLOMONS WASHINGTON, June 16. A United - States Navy communique Says: “On the evenings of June 13 arid 14 Flyihg Fortresses and Liberators attacked Japanese installations at Kahili, in the Shortland Island area of the Solomons. On the evening Of June 14 Mitchells escorted by Corsairs bombed a runway and anti-airctaft positions on the airfield at Vila, oh Kolombangara Island. “Early on the morning of June 15 about 16 Japanese aeroplaries dropped bombs on Guadalcanal- No casualties or material damage are reported.” YANGTSE FRONT CHINESE PREPARING NEW BLOWS London, June is. It is reported that the Chinese have retaken another tbWri about 70 miles down the Yarigtse from Ichang. The Chinese, giving the Japanese little chance to reorganise after their crushing defeat in the Yangtsb area, disrupted enemy communications with Yochow In attacks on the HarikowCRnton railway. The Chinese are now massing forces to drive the Japanese from Hwajung and Shihshow. A Chinese military spokesman stated that there were indications of a new Japanese offensive in western Yunnan from Burma. He asserted that the Japanese Were apparently preparing to use poison gas as a Japanese ship had unloaded 120 cases of gas containers and 50 tons of gas shells at Woosung, near Shanghai, in the middle of last month. Japanese aeroplanes dropped gas bombs on a Suiyuan village on May 31, and the following day Japanese artillery fired gas shells on a village in Shansi. Reviewing the tipper Yangste battle the spokesman estimated that the Japanese employed 100,000 men. The Chinese forces were orily slightly greater. The spokesman said that evidence indicated that Admiral Yamamoto, the commander-in-chief of the Japanese Navy, was not killed in actiori as announced, but was assassinated at Manila by Japanese as a result of a terrible feud between the Japanese Army and Navy. The spokesman added that General Tojo recently visited Manila to settle the feud. CHINA’S NEED OF SUPPLIES MADAME CHIANG SPEAKS TO CANADIANS LONDON, June 16. Addressing the Canadian Houses of Parliament, Madame Chiang Kai-shek said that the materials which Japan had commandeered in the last 12 months had reached staggering figures. “From the occupied territories within the Great Wall of China on an average every month 3,200,000 tons of raw materials are shipped to Japan, while 2,800,000 tons are shipped from the occupied territories of Manchuria to Japan,” she said. If Japan succeeded in submerging China, the cause of the Allies would suffer disaster, she said. She emphasised the need for continuing supplies for China. There was not an empty seat in the House, and some of Canada's 30.000 Chinese citizens, many of whom had come thousands of miles, were present. One correspondent says that Madame Chiang hem her audience fascinated while she spoke of China’s part in the war. Madame Chiang is the first woman to address the Canadian Houses of Parliament. REPORT ON WASTE IN AMERICA (ReC. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 17. Senator H. F. Byrd, chairman of the United States Senate Economy Committee, has issued a report alleging waste of Federal funds and manpower. It recommends the immediate dismissal of 300,000 Federal Government employees. The report says that the Federal Civil Service has increased from 917.760 in 1918 to 8,008,519 last April. Salaries rose from 142,000,000 to 552,000,000 dollars.