TORPEDO HITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1943, Page 3

TORPEDO HITS

ON JAPANESE DESTROYERS SCORED BY AMERICAN LIGHT CRAFT. OPERATIONS IN SOLOMONS & NEW GUINEA. LONDON, January 14. American torpedo boats in the Solomons have hit- two Japanese destroyers off Guadalcanal and possibly a third. The defeated enemy steamed off to the north-west. On Guadalcanal itself the Americans are still gaining ground. The commander of the Allied forces in the South-West Pacific, General Sir T. Blarney, is now back at his Australian headquarters after spending four months in the field in New Guinea. Allied troops during that period drove the Japanese over the Owen Stanley Mountains and right down to Buna.

Rain and mud are holding up the attack on the remaining Japanese Papuan stronghold of Sanananda. Allied aircraft are still attacking enemy bases.

SEA OF MUD

ROUND ENEMY POSITIONS AT SANANANDA. WIDESPREAD ALLIED AIR ATTACKS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 14. Torrential rain in northern Papua is preventing the development of Allied moves against the relaining Japanese strongpoints at Sanananda. The whole area is now a quagmire. Some recent small Allied gains have been made after infantrymen approached the Japanese defences through mud up to their armpits. These defences, excellently sited and concealed and protected both by terrain and inter-supporting .fire, have been under steady attack from outplanes. Allied air attacks, however, are aimed principally at the destruction of supply dumps. The Japanese at Sanananda are believed to be fairly well provided with food, but for some time they have been carefully husbanding ammunition. This may be due partially to a disinclination to reveal gun positions. Widespread Allied air attacks were made on Wednesday against the enemy in the northern New Guinea base of Lae, Salamaua, Finschhafen and Madang. The raid on Lae was made by Fortresses, Mitchells and Beaufighters, escorted by Lockheed Lightnings. It was particularly heavy. Official reports claim that substantial damage was done to harbour instllations and in the airport area. At the nearby Malahang airfield a Japanese fighter was destroyed on the ground. Ten miles on the trail south from Salamaua, Komatium was again strafed by Douglas Havocs. The Japanese are continuing their raids on Merauke. On Wednesday nine Kawasaki heavy bombers attacked the area, causing damage to the jetty. This is the sixth raid on Merauke in J 6 days. The heaviest attack was on December 31, when 18 bombers were sent over. It is stated officially that these persistent attacks have caused little damage. Despite incessant bombing by American heavy and medium bombers, the Japanese are reported again to be using Munda airfield in the Solomons. Some earlier reports suggested that the field had been bombed out of use. Situated in New Georgia Island, 150 miles north of Guadalcanal, the field is importantly placed for Japanese operations in the Solorqons. It would provide valuable land-based air support for any new southward offensive action.