MADE BY JAPANESE TOWARDS PORT MORESBY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1942, Page 3

MADE BY JAPANESE TOWARDS PORT MORESBY

Air Attacks isi the Solomons TWENTY ENEMY PLANES SHOT DOWN IN THREE DAYS DESTROYER SUNK BY ALLIED PLANES (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 12. ‘ 1 The Japanese have made no further advance in the Owen Stanley Range,” states a communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters. It adds that both sides are believed to be reorganising for renewed action. Flying Fortresses and Australian Hudsons yesterday attacked two Japanese destroyers off Normanby Island, Papua, scoring a direct hit on one, which was observed to be on fire and sinking by the stern and probably damaging the other with a very near miss. Rafts and Japanese sailors were seen in the water near the sinking ship. A Navy Department communique states: ‘‘The Japanese are continuing in their determined efforts to dislodge the American forces from Guadalcanar and the Tulagi area in the Solomons. Air raids against our positions in this area continue. On Wednesday 26 bombers, escorted by Zeros, attacked installations at Guadalcanar. United States aircraft shot down five bombers and four fighters. On Thursday 27 bombers attacked Guadalcanar and four were shot down. Oil Friday 26 bombers, with fighter escort, again attacked the installations at Guadalcanar and United States planes shot down six bombers and one fighter.

NIGHT OPERATIONS

“Destroyers shelled our positions at night. “On Friday Douglas Dauntless divebombers attacked enemy installations at Gizo Island in the New Georgia group. A small surface craft was sunk and considerable damage done tc buildings and installations. “Marines, assisted by dive-bombers and fighters, continued to seek out and engage enemy troop units in the interior of Guadalcanar. The enemy reinforced and supplies the units, using small craft which approach the shore in the dark. In spiie of opposition to these landings, it has not been possible to prevent them entirely.”