THOUSAND-MILE ADVANCE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 256, 28 July 1942, Page 5

THOUSAND-MILE ADVANCE

Enemy Air Offensive (By Telegraph.—Press Aesti.— Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received July 28, 1.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 27. “The bombing of Townsville on Sat-, urday night, though not serious In its results, was serious in that it advanced the enemy’s air offensive 1000 miles closer to Australia’s great centres of population and industry says the Sydney “Sun.” Townsville Is only 1025 miles from Sydney, and the ineffectual attack made by four enemy flying boats, which dropped their bombs harmlessly into the harbour, has entirely obscured any complacency caused by the long lull in the south-west. Pacific fighting The impression made in Sydney is as great as that caused by the earlier and much heavier raids ou Darwin. Wyndham and Broome. “The raid on Townsville, following the Japanese landing al Gonn Mission, suggests that the Japanese have plans for the subjection of the Port Moresby garrison as a preliminary to further southward encroachment, says the Sydney “Morning Herald’s” war correspondent at General MacArthur’s headquarters. The last occasion when enemy reconnaissance planes were over Townsville was on May 8. during the Coral Sea battle, and it was believed they came from an aircraft-carrier. The fourengined flying-boats making Saturday night's raid arc thought to have come from Japan's strongest New Guinea base. Lae. mor ■ than 800. miles away. Townsville's normal population of 30,000, which is swollen by tlie presence of troops, took tlie raid calmly. Adequate warning was given, and the town was blacked out long before the raiders appeared. Most of the people went io the shelters. Two of the raiders were plainly seen in searchlight beams. Darwin has now bad 20 enemy raids, hut the bombs oa Townsville were the first on the east coast of Australia. “More significant than the few bombs they dropped is the fact that the raiding -flying-boats were able to carry out a survey of over 800 niiies of sea.” says the “Sun." The.-, were able to return to their bases with data and courses plotted for further attacks." Tlie immunity from air attack of Australia's ..astern coastline is now ended, and Japanese bombs are exixicted to fall c.n settled areas even further south. Townsville is only 675 miles north of Brisbane.