MANY SHIPS BOMBED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 32, 2 November 1942, Page 5

MANY SHIPS BOMBED

Part Of Japan’s South Fleet OTHERS RETIRED

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Rec. November I, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 1. Smashing night bombing raids on Japanese fleet concentrations in the Buin-Faisi area of the north Solomon Islands, and in Rabaul harbour, New Britain, have again been made by Australiabased aircraft. ' It is stated that though part of the Japanese fleet has retired vfrom the Solomons, a considerable enemy strength of war shipping remains in the Faisi-Buin and Rabaul areas. Other enemy vessels are believed to have returned north to the main Japanese base at Truk, in the Caroline Islands. The chief destruction in the raid on the north Solomons, made by Flying Fortresses shortly before dawn yesterday, was an enemy heavy cruiser which blew up after a direct hit by a 5001 b. bomb. Two battleships or heavy cruisers are claimed damaged by direct hits in attacks on Friday night. Other claims which have not previously been listed include:— Damaged: A light cruiser, and three unidentified vessels. Probably damaged: An aircraft-carrier, a light cruiser, and a destroyer.

The latest communiques from General MacArthur’s headquarters state that the full results of the raid could not be observed, but the damage is believed to have been heavier than has been claimed. Sixty-six tons of bombs were dropped in this series of raids, which were all carried out in the face of intense antiaircraft fire. No Allied planes were lost. Australian-based aircraft now claim direct hits on 15 enemy ships in the Solomons-New Britain areas during tl.e past week. Seven other ships, including an aircraft-carrier and light cruisers, are believed to have been damaged by near misses. Three-Wave Raid. The attacks on Friday night on Japanese ships in the roadstead between Buin (or Bougainville) and Shortland Island were made 'by three waves of aircraft, two of Fortresses, and one of medium bombers. Twenty-seven tons of bombs were dropped during some hours. The star pilot of this raid was Captain Paul Cool, Pontiac (Michigan). In the van of the initial Fortress flight, he found the enemy shipping well dispersed, but scored a direct hit ou one of two ships which were lying together in the roadstead. In the dim light of a moon some pilots believed that the bomb found a battleship, but Cool considers that his target has been a heavy cruiser. On his second run Cool dropped a heavy bomb close to an aircraft-carrier. War correspondents suggest that the carrier as well as another cruiser may have been at least extensively damaged. Experience shows that “close ones” can sink ships because of severe underwater damage. Remarkable Accuracy. ‘ Australian medium-bomber pilotj later claimed another direct hit on a battleship or heavy cruiser. It is not known whether this’was the same ves--sei as that attacked by Cool. Two damaged enemy ships were observed to be beached. Fortresses revisited the Buin-Faisi area in an attack from a low altitude early this morning, when IS tons of bombs were dropped with remarkable success. A heavy cruiser blew up after a direct hit and other direct hits damaged a light cruiser and a merchant vessel. Other Heavy Damage. At the same time another force of Fortresses raided Rabaul harbour, dropping 21 tons of bombs. Observation was exeeplioually difficult, but t>*o unidentified vessels were set on fire by direct hits. Other damage is believed to have been heavy. Today an Allied bomber on reconnaissance in the Rabaul area was intercepted by 11 Zeros. In a running fight which lasted for 40 minutes three of the Zfiros were shot down and our bomber completed its mission and returned to its base.

During - Guadalcanal Lull WASHINGTON, October 30. “We are still in Guadalcanal, <»ecupying every inch we ever controlled,” said the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Knox, to the Press. "The first round is over, and we are waiting for the second round to begin. "Part of Hie Japanese fleet Ims retired from the scene. At present there is no active operation on the surface near the Solomons.” The Navy Department knew .that some Japanese warships had returned to their bases, including supply ships and transports, Colonel Knox added. Supplies were still reaching the marines and soldiers on Guadalcanal. Communications were uninterrupted. The army air force was still vqry active.