IN THE PACIFIC WAR ZONE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1942, Page 3

IN THE PACIFIC WAR ZONE

Daylight Raid on Port Moresby ENEMY PLANES AGAIN SIGHTED OVER AUSTRALIAN MAINLAND GENERAL MACARTHUR CONFERS WITH ARMY MINISTER LONDON, March 23. In the Pacific war zone great air activity continues on the part both of the Allies and the Japanese. A Canberra communique' states that 19 Japanese heavy bombers, escorted by fighters, made a raid on Port Moresby. Sixty-seven bombs were dropped, but they did little damage. This was the heaviest daylight attack Port Moresby has had so far. The Port Moresby correspondent of the “Sydney Morning Herald’’ says the enemy bombers came over in two waves and dropped many high-explosive and anti-personnel bombs. Then four Japanese fighters swept in, machine-gunning from a height of 200 feet. One of them swerved sharply, crashed into a hillside and blew up. The body of the pilot was thrown to a distance of 30 feet. x The latest Allied air raid was made on Dilli, m Portuguese Timor. The result was not seen, but during a reconnaissance a Japanese plane which tried to interfere was shot down. It is confirmed that a Japanese plane was shot down yesterday at Darwin. General MacArthur conferred today with the Australian Army Minister, Mr Forde, and with the Australian Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Sturdee. Enemy raiders were over the Australian mainland again today. The objective appeared to be the aerodrome at Wyndham. The attack lasted for ten minutes. The result is not yet known. It is now known that ten Japanese planes were destroyed during Saturday’s R.A.F. raid on an enemy occupied aerodrome in Southern Burma. A serious raid on an aerodrome in Central Burma is reported. Some damage was done to R.A.F. property. The first communique issued by the Chinese force in Burma reports some fighting and adds: “Our troops are continuing preparations to welcome the Japanese with true Chinese hospitality.”