ENEMY LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 March 1942, Page 3

ENEMY LOSSES

MOUNTING RAPIDLY IN NEW GUINEA DEFENCE OF THE MARKHAM VALLEY. AUSTRALIAN TROOPS LIVING LIKE BUSHRANGERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, March 24. Air activity is increasing in the various parts of the Pacific zone. A correspondent in the New Guinea area, reporting on the Japanese raid on Port Moresby yesterday, says the destruction of enemy aircraft is rapidly mounting. The Allied score of enemy planes either destroyed or damaged is now 25. Of four modern Zero fighters which accompanied the enemy bombers over Port Moresby yesterday ' only one is likely to have got back to its base. On land, too, the Japanese in New Guinea have been halted, with the situation in the Markham Valley under control, which means that the backdoor threat to Port Moresby has been considerably lessened. The Australians in the Markham Valley are reported to be carrying on the fight under conditions unparalleled in this war. They are more like bushrangers than soldiers, living in secret hide-outs and adding to their rations fresh meat and vegetables brought in by loyal natives, who ignored the blandishments of the Lutheran missionaries to turn pro-Japanese. The defence of the Markham Valley is part of an elaborate plan to prevent the Japanese moving from Lae, Salamaua and Finschhafen to areas where they could be expected to threaten Port Moresby. In deep valleys, on the top of high mountains, in the swamps and the jungle, groups of soldiers are keeping constant watch for any sign of Japanese penetration.

SPLENDID BAG MADE BY AMERICAN SUBMARINES. SHIPS SUNK IN JAPANESE WATERS. WASHINGTON, March 23. A navy communique says that United States submarines operating in Japanese waters recently sank a 7000ton tanker, 6000-ton ship and 5000-ton freighter and also damaged two 2000ton freighters. In addition an enemy destroyer or anti-submarine vessel was attacked and probably sunk. SLIGHT DAMAGE DONE IN JAPANESE RAID ON WYNDHAM. CANBERRA, March 24. In a raid yesterday on Wyndham, in Western Australia, 30 bombs were dropped, causing slight damage. The only casualty was a serviceman, whose knee was injured by a flying stone. An hour later Japanese fighters machinegunned the aerodrome without result. A communique dealing with last Sunday’s attempted raid on Darwin discloses that neither damage nor casualties occurred. The enemy lost one plane and probably another.

LOCALITY SIGNS REMOVAL AS PRECAUTION IN N.S.W. SYDNEY, March 24. All locality signs deemed to be visible from low-flying aircraft are being removed from railway stations within the metropolitan area, and all signs are being removed from stations outside the metropolitan area up to a radius from Sydney of 100 miles. In future guards will call the names of all stations.