NOT INTIMIDATED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 March 1942, Page 3

NOT INTIMIDATED

DEFENDERS OF PORT MORESBY GIVING MORE THAN THEY ARE TAKING. LITTLE DAMAGE DONE IN LATEST RAIDS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, March 25. Continuing their offensive against Port Moresby, three Japanese bombers escorted by four fighters appeared over the town this morning, flying at a great height. The planes hid in clouds during the greater period of the attack, and all the bombs fell wide of their mark. During March 23 and yesterday at least 46 Japanese planes were over Port Moresby, but there was surprisingly little damage. Accurate shooting by the Australian anti-aircraft batteries has prevented the town from receiving a real drubbing. A claim by the Japanese radio that Port Moresby has been captured was denied today by Mr Curtin, who described it as a choice example of wishful thinking. He added: “So far from having fallen to the Japanese, Port Moresby is still very much Australian, and to date it has given the Japanese more than it has received.” Australian airmen who, with some civilians, have returned to the mainland ,tell vivid stories of how the Australian airmen are holding out at Port Moresby. “They have their chins well up,” said one of the arrivals. “They know they have a tough time ahead, but they are not worrying.” He added: “The Japanese pilots are not supermen, but they must be treated with respect. Their anti-air-craft defences at Rabaul, however, are very solid.”

ENEMY WARSHIPS REPORTED IN BAY OF BENGAL. LONDON, March 24. Paris radio reported that a formation of Japanese naval forces was in the Bay of Bengal last night. ENEMY ATTACKS FIGHTING ROUND TOUNGOO. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 25. A Burma communique states: “Chinese forces were yesterday heavily engaged round Toungoo. The road from Toungoo to Pyinmana was cut at Kyunun, by Japanese patrols working round the flanks of the Toungoo defences. The situation will be cleared up today. A small British force remaining in this area was in action alongside our Chinese allies. “A landing-ground on the coast was bombed yesterday by 26 enemy aircraft.”

MARCUS ISLAND VALUE AS POTENTIAL BASE. EMPHASISED BY NAVY SPOKESMAN. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 25. An official Navy spokesman described the attack on Marcus Island as swift and cleanly completed. The spokesman stressed that Marcus Island was potentially a highly valuable base for aircraft, as well as for surface patrol units, greatly- extending the range of patrol aircraft. The spokesman said Tokio had ordered blackouts on several nights following the Marcus Island attack. PRESUMED LOST TWO AMERICAN DESTROYERS. LAST REPORTED IN VICINITY OF JAVA. WASHINGTON, March 24. A Navy communique on the Far East states: “The United States destroyers Pillsbury and Edsall have been reported missing since early in March, and are presumed lost. The Pillsbury is believed to have been lost in the vicinity of Bali Strait after the naval engagement in the Java Sea. The last report from the Edsall placed her in waters south of Java. “These destroyers were units of the original United States Asiatic Fleet, which has been used since the beginning of the war in an attempt to frustrate the Japanese invasion of the islands of the south-west Pacific.”

LOOKING AHEAD GRANT FOR PHILIPPINES ADMINISTRATION. WASHINGTON, March 24. The Administration has requested from Congress an appropriation of 165,000 dollars for the High Commissioner in the Philippines, Mr Sayne. It is explained that provision is necessary “in view of the possibility that the High Commissioner might be able to return to Manila, where he will probably find that the Japanese have destroyed most of his equipment.” WAR SUPPLIES LARGE AMOUNTS STORED IN CHINA. NEW YORK, March 23. Dr John Baker, United States inspector for the Burma Road, after arriving here aboard a navy transport from Singapore, declared that China now has enough supplies stored away in the mountains to last at least 30 to 40 months. He said the storage region was about 150 miles from Rangoon. . + ! Supplies include 9000 tons of petrol, 6000 tons of ammunition, 200,000 tons of general supplies and materials. He declared that the substitute Burma Road was still incomplete because work had to be done by hand, but portions of the road were now opened. He added that a shortage of drivers and mechanics was slowing progress on the road.