ENEMY LANDINGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 January 1942, Page 3

ENEMY LANDINGS

NEW GUINEA & ADJACENT AREAS OCCUPATION OF KIETA NOT CONFIRMED. JAPANESE TRANSPORTS BOMBED. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) MELBOURNE, January 27. The reported occupation by the Japanese of Kieta in the Solomon Islands is now regarded as incorrect, said the Deputy-Prime Minister, Mr Forde, today. Its unconfirmed occupation was announced last Friday. Mr Forde added that nothing had been heard from the Rabaul garrison for two days. Communication with the Bulolo goldfields, New Guinea, was reestablished yesterday. The militia and Australian infantry on New Britain Island are believed to be holding out. A report has been received that three Japanese transports have been hit and damaged in Rabaul Harbour by aircraft of the Australian Air Force overnight. One ship was observed to be burning furiously, another was ablaze and a third was known to have been hit. All the aircraft returned to their base safely. The War Cabinet's advices yesterday indicated that Japanese penetration of the New Guinea area, involving the use of large naval, military, and air forces, was continuing on a large scale. Madang, on the north-east coast of the New Guinea mainland, has been evacuated by all civilians. Newak, nearby, was severely bombed on Sunday morning. Bulolo, the inland goldfield town, which had been silent since 9.30 a.m. on Friday, succeeded in restoring com-

munication with Port Moresby yesterAll civilians have been evacuated from Tulagi, one of the main points in the Solomon Islands. Unconfirmed reports have been received that the Japanese have occupied positions on Buka Passage, between Buka Island and Bougainville Island, in the Solomons, Kieta, in the Solomons, is now in Japanese hands. A Royal Australian Air Force communique states: “Enemy air reconnaissances and small-scale attacks occurred today at various places in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. “Air activity on both sides was hampered by bad weather.” Tokio official radio said that landings in New Britain and New Ireland have given Japan important bases for the carrying out of her strategy against Australia, and adds: “The landings will prevent all possible reinforcements and supplies from America to Australia.”