CRUSHING BLOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1942, Page 3

CRUSHING BLOW

STRUCK BY DARING AIRMEN NOT A SINGLE PLANE LOST. AUSTRALIAN COMMUNIQUE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, March 11. Australian bombers dealt a crushing blow to .Japanese shipping concentrations at Salamaua, New Guinea, yesterday, states a communique. “Toward noon,” it is stated, “the first of our aircraft were over Salamaua, and they attacked an enemy cruiser in the face of light and heavy anti-air-craft fire of considerable volume. A few minutes later another attack was made on Japanese transports and warships. One large ship was left burning, several direct hits were made on a warship which was either a cruiser or a large destroyer, and two other ships were set on fire. “Later attacks recorded further hits and near-misses, and when our aircraft left one vessel was burnt out, three others were on fire, two were sinking, and one was being beached. “During the afternoon a stick of eight bombs was dropped on the centre runway at Salamaua aerodrome, and considerable damage vzas observed. Shipping was again attacked, and our airmen saw one ship listing heavily and on fire. It eventually sank.” The communique adds: “Enemy machines were over Darwin shortly after midday yesterday, and were driven off by anti-aircraft fire.” It was later revealed that one transport which was sunk' at Salamaua was of at least 8000 tons. The raid occupied from dawn to dusk. The pilots dived to 400 feet and bombed and machine-gunned the targets, showing amazing tenacity and courage. One pilot dived from 5000 feet to pour bullets into a Japanese naval pinnace after his bombs were exhausted. All the Australian planes returned to their base with not one casualty. VERY SERIOUS THE THREAT TO AUSTRALIA. BRITISH PRESS COMMENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 10. The situation in Java and the Japanese landings in New Guinea combine to make Press opinion here emphasise the very serious nature of the threat to Australia. “The Times” says: “No doubt is felt in Canberra, or in Sydney, or Melbourne, that the Japanese landings in New Guinea- are the opening move in a Battle for Australia, nor will the progress of the Japanese campaign in Burma, which can now claim the occupation of Rangoon, cause them to vary that opinion. “From the moment Japan entered the war, Australians have been convinced that the Commonwealth was among the early objectives of the Tokio programme. They were irritated and alarmed by the opinion expressed in London and Washington that the Japanese would not venture to stretch their lines of communication over the great distances separating their home bases from the island continent. Events have shown that.

they were wise in -building no hopes of immunity upon a lack of audacity in the Japanese plans.” Saying that it is safer to over-esti-mate than to under-estimate the Japanese the newspaper adds that the Australians’ resolve to rely, first of all on their own strength is rapidly being translated into action, and concludes: “The actual invasion may be postponed, but the danger to Australia becomes graver and more imminent every day. Neither the Commonwealth nor those from whom it has every right to expect prompt and effective help can afford delay.”