DILLI WRECKED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 34, 4 November 1942, Page 5

DILLI WRECKED

Three Formations Of Bombers RAIDS ON TIMOR (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received November 3, 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 3. Dilli, the capital of Portuguese Timor, lias been wrecked by heavy Allied bombing raids. Tons of high-explosive bombs made havoc in the mile-long main street as three formations of our planes swept over the target in the noon sunshine. One Zero fighter took off, but provided only feeble interference from a distance implying a wholesome respect for the Allied air gunners. A pall of smoke hid the town as our bombers turned for home. Three other formations ’ of Allied medium bombers carried out an earlier and equally successful daylight raid on Bobonaro village, in the mountains of Timor. The first flight bombed the village, the second maehinegunned Japanese troops who were fleeing for shelter, and the third flight dropped more bombs. Many casualties are known to have been caused. All our planes returned. <> —_—

GENERAL MACARTHUR May Be Given Wider Allied Command WASHINGTON GOSSIP NEW YORK, November 2. Vichy radio states that General MacArthur has arrived in Washington to report on the progress of the Solomons battle. The New York “Daily News” columnist, Danton Walker, cites reports from Washington that General MacArthur’s disclaimer of political ambitions has paved his way for the position of United Nations Commander-in-Ohief. General MacArthur will come to the United States to discuss this shortly, Mr. Walker says. President Roosevelt will soon appoint a single commander of the United States Army, Navy, and Marines in the South Pacific, and it will probably be General MacArthur, according to the columnist Drew Pearson in a broadcast.

He added that very high authorities at the War Department denied that General MacArthur had been prevented from bombing parts of the Solomons. ■

Mr. Pearson declared that in recent weeks General MacArthur had cabled the War Department several times requesting it to deny that he had ambitions of obtaining the Presidency. The War Department, however, told him that he would have to make the statement himself.

JAPANESE EXAMPLE

Unified Contol In South Pacific (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, November 3. The maximum effort of the Allies in this theatre could only be achieved under unified control, declared the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Mr. AV. M. Hughes. For a generation Japan had concentrated on building up what was proving to be the greatest military power in the world. American and Australian troops were not faring well against her. “At best, we are holding our own, but no more than that,” Mr. Hughes said. "Japan’s soldiers move under unified control and with complete coordination of the sea, land, and air forces. They are not confined to prescribed areas beyond which they cannot operate. Tomorrow troops from Rabaul or Kokoda could be moved to Guadalcanal. There are no artificial lines limiting the authority of the Japanese High Command.”

“Against such an enemy the Allies in the Solomons could muster their forces only within the area allotted to an American admiral. Though he might be in danger of being overwhelmed by superior numbers, he could not call on General MacArthur’s forces, since they were outside his area.’,’

CHINESE PLANES RAID HANKOW

U.S. Bombs On Hong Kong

(Received November 3, 8.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, November 2. A Central China news agency correspondent says that three squadrons of Chinese planes raided Hankow, in eastern China, last night and unloaded tons of explosives and fire-bombs, which set fire to the Japanese concession. 'The High Command reports minor fighting on three widely t-i'paraled fronts. A Japanese detachment, was licalen in a severe bailie al I’aolow, in Siiiynn Province. A small ,lapanose detachment was repulsed at two points west, of Nnnclmng. The Japanese atacked Shasi and Clienliokow in Hupeh Province, in central China. Fighting continues. American dive-bombers have attacked shipping in Hong Kong harbour, where direct hits were scored on a freighter.

Tlie receipt, of tlie first eight, pereon-ally-writteu messages from Hong Kong is announced by the Red Cross. These messages, which travelled to Britain through the Red Cross via Russia, Turkey, and Geneva, were sent off in July, but. all contain only family news. This news that n considerably increased number of lied Cross messages are reaching Britain from other parts of China. There have been more Ilian 1000 in the past month, mostly fro,in Peking and Shanghai.