WEWAK BLASTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1943, Page 4

WEWAK BLASTED

LARGE CARGO VESSEL LEFT LISTING SMALLER SHIPS PROBABLY DAMAGED. ATTACK BY LIBERATORS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, May 6. A 5000-ton cargo vessel was left listing and burning and two 500-tonneis were probably damaged by Allied heavy bombers in an attack on. Wewak, The ships were landing supplies for I lie largest concentration of -Japanese troops on the north-east coast of New Guinea. Liberators made a brief raid lasting five minutes, sending their bombs crashing on the enemy-occupied town and shipping in the harbour. All the planes returned. The last reported attack on Wewak was by Flying Fortresses on Anzac Day, when a large fuel dump on the aerodrome was destroyed. Allied planes yesterday were also over Timika, in Dutch New Guinea, and Toeal, in the Kei Islands. Strong enemy fighter opposition was encountered over Wewak. This supplements earlier reports of increased Zero patrol activity. Strong formations of Japanese fighters have been encountered by our reconnaissance bombers over Cape Gloucester, Gasmata and Talasea, in New Britain, as well as Wewak, in the north-western sector.