KEPT GOING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1942, Page 2

KEPT GOING

SMASHING AIR ATTACKS ON RABAUL FIFTEEN ENEMY SHIPS. SUNK OR CRIPPLED IN THREE DAYS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 26. Australian based Flying Fortresses have attacked Japanese shipping in Rabaul harbour for the third successive night. In moonlight early on Sunday morning, a strong force of Fortresses dropped 17 tons of bombs, sinking a gunboat and leaving three merchantmen (aggregating 12,009 tons) listing and ablaze. All three are believed to have been destroyed. The latest raid on this important link in the Japanese shipping line to the Solomons brings the score of destruction to 15 ships totalling 80,000 tons, sunk or crippled in three days. In addition, 20,000 tons are believed to have received more or less serious damage. Np Allied planes have been lost in these attacks. Hits on fuel barges near the wharves at Rabaul caused explosions and huge fires which could be seen 100 miles away. OTHER TARGETS STRAFED. Another air blow in support of the Solomons fighting was an attack by medium bombers on Kavieng in New Ireland on Saturday night. An enemy four-engined plane was destroyed on the ground, and large fires were started among fuel dumps Other Allied medium bombers raided Koepang, in Timor, early •bn Sunday morning. Grounded aircraft were attacked. Three Japanese planes made a further raid on Darwin on Saturday night, dropping the bombs harmlessly near the beach. This was Darwin’s forty-fourth raid. MOUNTAIN FIGHTING. In the Owen Stanley Ranges, the situation is reported to be unchanged. Fighting continues and our troops are meeting determined enemy resistance from prepared positions. In support of the land forces, Havoc attack planes strafed the trail between Isurava and Kokoda, and the areal south of Wairopi was bombed. The Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, has sent a message to General MacArthur expressing “appreciation of the magnificent effort put forward by our Allied forces under most difficult conditions, and of the splendid fight being waged in New Guinea by Australian and American forces against the Japanese invaders.” Replying on behalf of the Allied forces General MacArthur has reiterated to Mr Curtin assurances of our complete effort in the great struggle now being waged.” JAPANESE ATTACKS DEFEATED BY MARINES ON GUADALCANAR. TANKS USED BY ENEMY. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) WASHINGTON, October 26. The Navy Department has announced that two Japanese cruisers and a destroyer were damaged, and one cruiser probably damaged, and one possibly damaged, in the Solomons. The marines repulsed five attempts to break through the land defences on Guadalcanal’. The Japanese have landed more troops on north-west Guadalcanal* The marines on Guadalcanal* have held off five attacks by the Japanese. A communique says that the enemy used tanks and put up a heavy bairage The first four attacks were made at night, the marines destroying five onemy tanks. The fifth attack early in the morning was broken up by United States planes and artillery.