FOUR SHIPS HIT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 March 1943, Page 3

FOUR SHIPS HIT

IN JAPANESE CONVOY BOUND FOR WEWAK - EXPLOSIONS ON BIG TRANSPORT TANKER BELIEVED SUNK. DESTROYER DIRECTLY STRUCK BY BOMB. LONDON, March 15. Bomb hits have been scored by attacking Allied aircraft on three of the live merchant ships and one of the three escorting destroyers in. the Japanese convoy making for Wevak, in New Guinea. On the subject of the attacks on the convoy, a communique issued by General MacArthur, and transmitted from Sydney states: — “New Guinea (Wewak): Our heavy bombers in low-level attacks on the enemy convoy scored a direct hit with a 5001 b. bomb near the bow of a large destroyer, strafing the decks during ihe bombing run. A 7000-ton cargo ship was also hit. “The 8000-ton transport which was previously reported hit and on fire was seen to explode on both sides, and was last seen blazing from stem to stern. The 4000-ton cargo ship previously reported hit was later ascertained to be a tanker. It was not subsequently seen and is believed to have been sunk.” “Co-ordinated with the attacks on shipping, other heavy bombers attacked the aerodrome and town area. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was encountered from the ships and the shore, but there was no attempt at interception. All oui - planes returned.” CONCENTRATION IN AMBON. The communique reports as follows on operations in other areas: — “North-western sector: Our. air reconnaissance shows a growing concentration of enemy transports and cargo ships in Ambon (Dobo area). The enemy’s ground forces there are being reinforced and new airfields are being constructed. (Ambon, an island in the Moluccas, Dutch East Indies, contains the important port and naval base of Amboina. It is about 430 miles northeast of Dili, in Portuguese Timor). “Timor (Dili;: One of our heavy units bombed the town area with unobserved results. Two enemy fighters attempting interception were driven off, One was seen smoking and is believed to have been destroyed. “North-eastern sector, Solomons (Buka): Our medium bombers executed a four-hour night harassing raid on the aerodrome, under bad weather conditions. Bombs fell across the runway and in dispersal bays. Results could not be observed. New Britain (Übili): One of our heavy units strafed the wharf and adjacent installations. Kimbe Bay; One of our heavy units strafed a small enemy vessel off Cape Hoskins. Gasmata: One of our heavy units bombed the aerodrome. Cape Gloucester: One of our heavy units strafed anti-aircraft positions. “Madang: One of our heavy units dropped 10001 b. bombs on the aerodrome runway and adjacent installations.” ALLIED ATTACKS HAMPERED BY DISTANCE & WEATHER. PART OF CONVOY MAY BE IN PORT. (Special Australian Correspondent). SYDNEY, March 15. It is possible that some of the ships in the Japanese convoy making for Wewak have entered port. All the attacks on the convoy are believed to have been made at night, and our bombers have been hampered by heavy weather as well as by the extreme distance. Wewak is 480 miles from the main Allied New Guinea base of Port Moresby. The raids so far reported have been made by Fortresses and Liberators. Official reports state that fewer aircraft are taking part than were engaged in the Bismarck Sea battle. No estimate has been announced of the number of enemy troops carried by the convoy, which is one of two sighted off Maus Island in the Admiralty Group last Thursday. Nothing further has been heard of the second convoy, but it may at a later stage endeavour to join the ships now at Wewak. A spokesman at General MacArthur’s headquarters today declined to amplify the brief communique statement. He said elaboration was not possible at this stage. PACIFIC SWEEPS ATTACKS BY AMERICAN AIRCRAFT. SMALL ENEMY VESSEL DESTROYED. LONDON, March 15. In the Solomons area American Lightnings bombed and destroyed a small Japanese vessel in the New Georgia group, about 170 miles from Guadalcanal. Liberator heavy bombers again attacked Japanese positions at Munda and Vila, and others in the Shortland Island area. Warhawks and Liberators strafed Japanese installations at Kiska, in the Aleutians and damaged several grounded aircraft. All the American aircraft got back.