BATAN ASSAULT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1942, Page 3

BATAN ASSAULT

FIERCE BAYONET FIGHTING ENEMY FAILS TO REACH . MAIN LINES. APOLOGY FOR BOMBING OF HOSPITAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, April 1. A United States War Department communique states: “In the Philippine theatre, Japanese infantry opened a heavy attack on the right centre of our line at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Several waves of assault troops, supported by heavy mortar fire, made repeated attacks on our outposts. Some of our advanced positions were taken ■after fierce bayonet fighting. Our troops were reinforced, and, after several hours of savage hand to hand fighting, the enemy attack was brought to a halt before they had reached our main line. “A formal apology has been made by the Japanese High Command in the Philippines for the aerial bombing of our base hospital at Batan. In a broadcast, a Japanese spokesman declared that the bombing was unintentional. “Air attacks on Batan were made during daylight on Tuesday. Most of these attacks were made by flights of Jwo planes.”

EXCELLENT TARGETS

FOUND AT SALAMAUA <S. LAE. ALLIED AIR ATTACKS. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. “Allied aircraft yesterday attacked Salamaua and Lae. Hits were observed on the runway of an aerodrome. The attack was pushed home from a low level. Enemy concentrations, following upon their retreat from Markham Valley provided excellent targets,” says a communique.