JAPANESE TONNAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 57, 4 September 1943, Page 7

JAPANESE TONNAGE

Heavy Losses in Pacific Rec. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Sept. 3. The Secretary of the United States Navy, Colonel Frank Knox, said that over one-third of the Japanese cargo tonnage existing before the outbreak of war and acquired since it began had been sunk. The Allies had sunk over 2,500,000 tons in the Pacific— 8.0. W.

cargo vessels and barges. In raids on islands at New Britain, reconnaissance planes at night bombed and strafed barracks and warehouses, at Gasmata and long-range fighters and medium bombers destroyed 12 barges and a fuel dump in daylight coastal sweeps. Medium bombers carried out raids on islands in the Arafura Sea, south-west of New Guinea. An enemy seaplane base at Taberfane, in the Aru Islands, and Langgoer aerodrome, in the Kei group, were attacked with incendiaries. Explosions and fires resulted in both target areas. The communique reports five ineffective raids on Wednesday by Japanese planes on American shore positions and shipping at Vella Layella, in the central Solomons. Admiral Halsey's fighter patrols shot down five divebombers and four other enemy aircraft were destroyed by anti-aircraft fire. American torpedo planes and divebombers struck at enemy defences and installations at Vila, on Kulambangra Island, destroying a radio station and several artillery positions, including a sin coastal gun.