KAVIENG BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1943, Page 3

KAVIENG BATTLE

AT LEAST 12 WARSHIPS SUNK OR DAMAGED LIGHT CRUISER BEACHED RABAUL CONCENTRATION STILL NORMAL. HEAVY ATTACK ON BUKA. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, April G. A Japanese light cruiser is beached at Kavieng, New Iraland. Reconnaissance after the three-clay aerial battle in this area which resulted in at least 12 enemy warships and merchantmen being sunk or damaged shows that some shipping remains in the harbour. This information was released today by a spokesman at General MacArthur’s headquarters. It is thought that some of the ships remaining may be immobilised by damage from our bombing attacks. Asked by war correspondents if the enemy shipping concentration at Kavieng could be inferred to imply that earlier heavy attacks on Rabaul, in New Britain, had forced the enemy to make plans for development of the port of Kavieng to relieve pressure on Rabaul, the spokesman replied that recent reconnaissance showed that the enemy’s shipping concentration at Rabaul remained normal. There was no evidence of a reduction in the Japanese strength at that busy base. The

war and merchant shipping attacked at Kavieng had been an entirely new concentration and did not comprise vessels moved from the Rabaul area. GENERAL MACARTHUR’S REPORT. General MacArthur’s communique states: “North-western sector, Dutch New Guinea (Timika): Our medium units bombed an enemy-occupied village, starting fires. “Sekar Bay: Our heavy bombers attacked a 4000-ton enemy cargo ship, scoring close misses with 5001 b. bombs. The damage could not be ascertained. “Solomons (Buka): Our medium bombers executed an extended night harassing raid on the aerodrome and adjacent town areas. For three hours and a half our planes cruised over the target, dropping fragmentation bombs on the dispersal bays and runway, and m Chinatown and Kakil. Numerous intense fires occurred, lasting more than two hours. These appeared to be burning aircraft. Searchlights and anti-aircraft fire of all calibres were encountered. All our planes returned . “New Britain (Wide Bay): One oi our heavy units bombed and strafed a small enemy surface craft off Zungen Point. Open Bay: One of our heavy units bombed Übili Village and the jetty at Ulamona. Cape Gloucester. Our heavy bombers twice raided the aerodrome, bombing and strafing the runway and dispersal area. “New Guinea (Madang): One of our heavy units bombed the aerodrome and building area. Saidor: One of our heavy units strafed villages in the area. Finschafen: One of our heavy units bombed the aerodrome. Salamaua: One of our heavy bombers at midday raided the aerodrome.” SHIPS & PLANES ENEMY LOSSES IN SOLOMONS. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association Copyright) PEARL HARBOUR, April 5. Land-based Navy and Marine Corps bombers and torpedo-planes’ from Guadalcanal sank at least. 17 Japanese ships, including a battleship, and damaged 68 others between August 25 and February 28 last. Rear-seat gunners shot down 11 Zeros and 11 float-planes. These figures do not include the losses inflicted by carrier-based or army planes. _______