JAPANESE LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 April 1942, Page 3

JAPANESE LOSSES

OVER DARWIN AND TIMOR TWELVE PLANES SHOT DOWN. OTHERS DESTROYED ON GROUND. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, April 5.. Twelve enemy planes were shot down in operations over Darwin and Koepang yesterday, and seven others were badly damaged. No Allied planes were damaged. Giving these details of losses, an official statement says that four out of seven heavy Japanese bombers which raided Darwin yesterday afternoon and also two Zero fighters were shot down. A fifth bomber and two Zeros were so badly damaged that they have probably failed to reach their bases. Allied bombers attacked the aerodrome at Koepang in Timor, ’and destroyed six grounded Japanese planes and damaged four. A further Australian communique says it is now estimated that 17 Japanese aircraft were destroyed and 10 others damaged in the operation by The R.A.A.F. yesterday, which also included a raid on Lae. Two planes of the R.A.A.F. were lost.

TOJO’S WARNING REAL WAR STILL AHEAD. NEW YORK, April 4. The Tokio official radio said that the Premier, General Tojo, addressing a luncheon gathering, warned the Japanese against overconfidence because “in spite of the glorious victories of the Japanese the real war is still ahead.” Commenting on the forthcoming general elections for the Diet, which are scheduled for April 30, General Tojo said that increased national solidarity was necessary for victory. BATAN FRONT JAPANESE MOVE ARTILLERY FROM CAVITE. WASHINGTON, April 4. A War Department communique announced: “The air raids on Corregidor continue, but their frequency and intensity have diminished. They caused no damage, while two Japanese bombers were shot down and two others were damaged. Japanese artillery intensely shelled Batan on the afternoon of April 3. but no ground attack followed. The Japanese have apparently moved artillery from Cavite to Batan. Sharp patrol activity on both sides resulted in several encounters, but Japanese efforts to disrupt the American lines were futile.” Yesterday’s communique stated that Good Friday was marked by a report of a Japanese air attack on a church at Mirai, near’ Digosin Island, off Mindanao. Corregidor Island has not been raided during the past 24 hours, for the first time since March 24, a communique states. The American harbour defences exchanged fire with Japanese batteries on the south shore of Manila Bay.