GRIM FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1943, Page 3

GRIM FIGHTING

IN NORTHERN NEW GUINEA CONTEST FOR VILLAGES & TRACKS. ENEMY PARTY AMBUSHED BY AUSTRALIANS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY. May 10. Australian infantry ambushed a Japanese patrol on the Komiatum trail, south of Bobdubi, in northern New Guinea, on Saturday, killing 20 and wounding many others. The clash took place three-quarters of a mile south of a village which was recently occupied by our troops, cutting one Japanese supply line to their forward positions near Mubo. While it lasted, the fighting was fierce. The Japanese are now exerting considerable pressure against our troops occupying Bobdubi, which lies behind the enemy’s advance posts. Grim fighting for its possession is reported to be in progress. AIR OFFENSIVE PRESSED IN SPITE OF BAD WEATHER. ATTACKS ON 15 JAPANESE POSITIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, May 10. In spite of bad weather, Allied planes were active over 15 enemy-occupied areas in the South-West Pacific yesterday. Liberators made a morning raid on Manokwari, on the north coast of Dutch New Guinea, while another formation bombed Kaimana. Three Zeros attempted interception and one was shot down. A Liberator attacked a small cargo ship off Sorong, on the western tip of Dutch New Gunea, while another Liberator bombed the village of Geser, at the eastern end of Ceram Island, north-east of Ambon. Barges on the shore were attacked.

In New Britain, Übili was bombed and the Tala Sea strafed by a Flying Fortress on Saturday afternoon. These attacks are reported in General MacArthur’s communique today. Gasmata was twice raided by single bombers yesterday. Five Japanese barges about 50ft in length, were strafed by a Fortress near Rooke Island, in Vitiaz Strait, between New Guinea and New Britain. The barges put up strong flak. On the New Guinea mainland, Wewak, Madang, Saidor and Finschhafen, on the enemy’s coastal supply route and the Komiatum area were bombed and strafed. Liberators made attacks before dawn on three aerodromes which have been established by the Japanese near Wewak. Fragmentation and incendiary bombs were dropped in the dispersal areas. A Japanese news agency says that American aircraft attacked the Japan-ese-occupied port of Canton and bombed what was described as the business district.

A Netherlands submarine operating with the British Navy has sunk a 7500-ton Japanese merchantman in the strait between the Malay Perfinsula and Sumatra.

ISLAND AIRFIELD IN NORTHERN TERRITORY. BOMBED WITH LITTLE EFFECT BY JAPANESE. SYDNEY. May 10. Seven Japanese medium bombers bombed and strafed Millingimbi Island, 300 miles east of Darwin, about noon yesterday. They caused only light damage and casualties. Single Allied Beaufighters intercepted the raiders and damaged one of them. Millingimbi, in Castlereagh Bay, is near the north-eastern tip of Anheim Land, in the Northern Territory. The bombers dropped “daisy-cutter” bombs on the air-strip. Formerly a mission station, Millingimbi is the eighth point in Australian territory to be bombed by Japanese planes. The other centres are Darwin, Katherine in Northern Territory, Broome, Wyndham, Port Hedland, in Western Australia, Mossman, Townsville, in Queensland.

BIG SCORES MADE BY SPITFIRE PILOTS. OPERATING IN DARV7IN AREA. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 10. 'Australian Spitfire pilots in the Darwin area are amassing big scores of Japanese planes shot down. The R.A.A.F.’s leading fighter ace, Wing Commander Clive Caldwell, brought his total of kills to 241 when he shot down two Zeros on May 2. Caldwell has now shot down four Zeros, following his earlier successes as a fighter pilot in England and the Middle East. "The Japanese can bleat as much as they like, but it wasn’t their planes or their skill which caused us to lose so many Spitfires in the big battle,” said Caldwell. “The Japanese had a lot of luck. In combat, we had an eminently successful day. The storm got the better of us after the battle was over.” Caldwell added that there was no fighter to touch the Spitfire. “In speed and climbing power, the Spitfire is superior to the Zero,” he said. “We can run past Zeros and outfly them. The Japanese know how to use the guns on their planes.”