MYSTERY BLOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1942, Page 3

MYSTERY BLOW

AMERICAN AIR ATTACK IN PHILIPPINES MACARTHUR NOT KNOWN TO POSSESS PLANES. OR LANDING GROUNDS FOR BOMBERS. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 4. The "New York Times” Washington correspondent says General MacArthur’s report concerning the air attack against Japanese ships has baffled informed circles, as all the available reports indicate that no transports carrying aeroplanes have reached the Philippines. Militarists hint that General MacArthur might have used reconstructed damaged planes, but mystery remains as to what landing field was used, because the Bataan Peninsula positively does not include sufficient level ground for the starting or landing of bombers. Some speculate on the possibility of an American aircraft-carrier having penetrated to the Philippines, but officials decline to comment. AID FOR JAVA UNITED STATES SENDING REINFORCEMENTS. STATEMENT BY MR STIMSON. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 5. The Secretary for War. Mr H. L. Stimson, told the Press that material and air reinforcements had been sent to Java last week and that the retirement of General Wavell from the South-West Pacific Command had not altered in any way the British and American attitude of intense support for the Dutch in the present battle. THREE=BOMB RAID MINOR ATTACK ON HONOLULU. HONOLULU, March 4. The army announced that three me-dium-sized bombs were dropped at 2.15 a.m. (local time), “believedly from an enemy plane.” There were no casualties. This accounts for - explosions which had earlier been reported. It was the first bombing of Honolulu since Decembei’ 7. The enemy plane which dropped bombs near Honolulu (a British Official Wireless message states) is believed to have come from a Japanese vessel west of the Hawaiian Islands. No damage was done. Unfavourable weather, with pom’ visibility, hampered the search, which was immediately undertaken by aircraft. RAID ON DARWIN AIR FORCE ESTABLISHMENT MACHINE-GUNNED. AUSTRALIAN PLANES ATTACK ISLAND BASES. CANBERRA, March 4. An official communique issued tonight said that the town of Darwin and R.A.A.F. installations were attacked and machine-gunned by Japanese fighter planes this afternoon. Some damage was caused, but no casualties were reported. Alerts were sounded later, but no further raids occurred. Australian airmen attacked Japan-ese-occupied aerodromes and shipping overnight at Gasmata, in New Britain, and enemy aircraft again raided Port Moresby for about 20 minutes. Some damage was caused to the Port Moresby aerodrome and to harbour installations at Gasmata, some hits were scored on the aerodrome buildings and columns of smoke were observed in» the bombed area. Two Australian machines failed to return to their base.