DAMAGE NOT GREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 March 1942, Page 4

DAMAGE NOT GREAT

ENEMY RAID ON PORT MORESBY I .— I ENEMY BOMBER PROBABLY DESTROYED. AS WELL AS FIGHTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) PORT MORESBY, March 1. The Japanese in yesterday’s attack dropped over 100 bombs, but, considering the severity of the attack, the damage done was slight. There were some casualties but no one was killed. One Japanese bomber also probably was destroyed, in addition to the Japanese fighter shot down by anti-air-craft fire. The pilot of the fighter, who was badly burned, parachuted to safety and was captured. He is the first enemy combatant taken prisoner in this war on Australian territory. HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED ON INVADERS. (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) BANDOENG, March 1. An official report says the Dutch are inflicting losses on the Japanese at numerous points in Java. The Japanese have captured the town of Soebang, forty miles north-west of Bandoeng. They have also penetrated forty miles inland south-westward from Indramaju. • Allied planes ma-chine-gunned and annihilated a detachment of 300 invaders. JAPANESE CLAIM > UNITED FLEET “VIRTUALLY ANNIHILATED'.” DENIAL OF ANY LOSSES. (Received This Day, 1.0 p.m.) LONDON, March 1. The Tokio radio, broadcasting its familiar extravagant claims, says the United Nations’ fleet was “virtually annihilated” in two weekend battles, in which five Allied cruisers, including one Australian and one American and a further six destroyers, were sunk. The broadcast adds that the Japanese fleet “is now mopping up the remnants.” It adds that only one Japanese destroyer was slightly damaged.