MANY ALLIED ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 March 1943, Page 3

MANY ALLIED ATTACKS

ON JAPANESE ISLAND BASES SIXTH ENEMY RAID ON ORO BAY I — SLIGHT DAMAGE AND NO CASUALTIES. GENERAL MACARTHUR’S REPORT. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 30. Within 16 hours of their 40-bomber raid, Japanese aircraft were back over Oro Bay, on the north coast of Papua, early yesterday morning. The latest raid was made in darkness by six medium bombers. This was the sixth raid of the month on Oro Bay, which is about 18 miles south-east of Buna. The Japanese have been evidencing strong interest in this section of the Papuan coast and have employed a total of about 200 aircraft in attacks on the area. Their proportionate losses have been high. General Mac Aurthur’s communique states: ‘■North-western sector, Kai Islands (Toeal): Our medium units executed a low-level bombing and strafing attack, starting fires visible from 15 miles away. Before returning to their base our planes strafed the enemy-occupied villages of Langgoer and Wabsek. “North-eastern sector, New Britain (Gasmata): One of our heavy units bombed the aerodrome, “Cape Gloucester: One of our medium bombers executed a night raid on the aerodrome. “New Guinea (Madang): One of our heavy units bombed the aerodrome. “Saidor area: One of our heavy units strafed villages down the coast. “Lae: In a night attack, our medium units bombed and strafed the town area and shore installations. "Dobo: Our fighters intercepted and destroyed an enemy bomber on reconnaissance. “Oro Bay: Six enemy bombers raided under cover of darkness, causing slight damage but no casualties.” LEFT ABLAZE JAPANESE DESTROYER. LOW-LEVEL ATTACK BY AMERICAN FIGHTERS. LONDON, March 30. in the Solomons yesterday United States fighters came across a Japanese destroyer near Shortland Island. They swooped down to the attack and the wing tip of one plane hit the destroyer’s mast. The destroyer was left ablaze.