JAPANESE TRANSPORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1943, Page 3

JAPANESE TRANSPORT

WITH FULL LOAD OF TROOPS SUNK BY MACARTHUR’S BOMBERS. OFF NORTH COAST OF NEW GUINEA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, May 9. A Japanese transport loaded with troops and a cargo vessel have been sunk by' General MacArthur's bombers off Madang, the important enemy supply base on the northern New Guinea coast between AVewak and Salaniaua. The attack was made on Saturday.

Heavy Allied air activity has been concentrated in this sector of the South-West Pacific area during the past 48 hours. Madang is the picturesque former capital of German northeast New Guinea. It also had its biggest raid of the war on Friday morning when 21 tons of bombs were dropped. Reporting Saturday’s attack, General MacArthur’s communique today says:— “Our medium units and long-range fighters with strong fighter escort attacked a transport and a cargo ship off the harbour entrance. The transport, its decks and superstructure crowded with troops, was set on fire by machine-gun strafing, and was then sunk by three direct hits from masthead height with 500-pound bombs. “Two direct hits with heavy bombs were scored on the cargo vessel, which was left burning and sinking. Thirteen or more enemy fighters were intercepted, one being shot down and two damaged in aerial combat. Another fighter caught on the ground before the take-off w T as destroyed by strafing. Enemy-occupied villages along the coast were bombed and strafed on the homeward fight.’

HARD PRESSED ENEMY IN THE. MUBO AREA. MAY HAVE TO ABANDON POSITIONS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY. May 9. Supply difficulties may force the Japanese to abandon positions around Mubo, the inland outpost protecting their northern New Guinea coastal base of Salamaua. Mubo village itself is already no-man’s land. However, aggressive Australian patrol activity in this area cannot yet be {regarded as opening the campaign to retake Salamaua, and its companion base Lae. The latest Australian success in this area, the occupation of Bobdubi, a small village on the swift-flowing Francisco River, brought our troops within five air miles of Salamaua. The village was captured last Wednesday after picked troops had made a wide detour around the enemy positions closer to Mubo.

The Japanese at Bobdubi lost heavily as they were compelled to withdraw. At the same time part of a force of Japanese moving along the SalamauaMubo track near Komiatum, a midway point on the track, were wiped out in one of the most successful ambushes staged by Australian troops for some time. Twenty-five Japanese were killed and the remainder fled.