Small Convoy Attacked Off New Guinea

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1942, Page 3

Small Convoy Attacked Off New Guinea

Fighter - bombers destroy one gunboat. Rec. 11.55 pjn. Sydney, Aug. 26. While the second battle of the Solomon Islands is being fought 600 miles to the east, planes from General Douglas MacArthur's command attacked a new convoy of enemy wArships and transports just north of the south-east tip of NeW Guinea. A gunboat was destroyed bv a direct bomb hit, and two transports were heavily strafed. Ihe Allies lost one plane in the operation- . The direction in which the Japanese convoy was headed, and its objective. are not revealed by South-west Pacifio headquarters, but it is significant that the attack on the vessels was made south of the Trobriand Islands, which- is. the nearest island group to the south-east tip of New Guinea. "The raid was made by fighter-bombers, which are being in- , creasingly used in this theatre. The convoy is officjally described as "small." The attack was only a small part of widespread Allied air activity on Tuesday. Highly succecssful surprise attacks were made on grounded enemy fightera at Buna. In two strafing raids our fighters wrecked a total of 13 Zeros — one ot the biggest single bags of enemy fighters yet made. It is revealed that the field against which the attacks were launched j has been used by the Japanese for some tlme In handling supplies. It is not known whether the enemy had used it j for . fighter operations, but war corres- | pondents believe the Allies caught the Japanese off guard before they had a chance to use their fighters. To-day's commimique also reports that Allied fighters machine-gunned and destroyed a number of enemy barges and supplies on the beach south of Buna. This indicates a spread of enemy activity along the north Papuan coast. Allied air forces also struck at two Japanese bases in the north-eastern sector of Rabaul-Gasmata. In a heavy night attack bombers dropped eight tons of high explosive and incendiary bombs on aerodrome runways, hangars, dispersal

areas and a seaplane base, starting fires that were visible for 40 miles. In the north-western sector Allied medium bombers raided enemy installations at Timor, starting fires. The sole offensive Japanese air activity was a night attack on Darwin by two enemy planes, which dropped bombs near the aerodrome. The damage was negiigible.