BIG FIRES STARTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1943, Page 3

BIG FIRES STARTED

ON RABAUL AERODROME RAID BY AMERICAN HEAVY BOMBERS. OTHER OPERATIONS OVER WIDE AREA. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) SYDNEY, May 12. Flying Fortresses and Liberators battled through heavy weather to make a raid on Vunakanau aerodrome, Rabaul, before dawn yesterday, starting fires which were visible for 60 miles. A series of blazes in the dispersal areas indicated the probable burning of enemy aircraft. Japanese air activity continues over northern Australia. Following close on their attack on Allied shipping near Milingimbi, which was reported in-Gen-era MacArthur's communique yesterday, three enemy floatplanes have attempted to attack ships off Cape Wessel, on the easternmost tip of Arnheim Land, at the extreme north of the Northern Territory. No damage was done to the ships, and a single Beaufighter shot down one of the floatplanes. In daylight, Bostons bombed and machine-gunned the building area at Arawe, on the south and the aerodrome at Cape. Gloucester on the north-west coast of New Britain. In New Guinea Allied aircraft are maintaining their attacks on Madang. A Liberator on reconnaissance over Aexishafen, 11 miles north of Madang, found a group of barges in Sek Harbour and machine-gunned them, with unstated results. Alexishafen for many years was the centre of Roman Catholic mission activities in north-east New Guinea, and it has a fine cathedral, a technical school and a training farm for natives.

Thwarted in their attempts to move large convoys to the north New Guinea coast, the Japanese are sneaking single ships into harbours and distributing the cargoes of other supply centres by using power barges which keep close to the coast for protection. Nine Japanese bombers which were over Merauke, the Allied base on the south New Guinea coast, caused some damage and casualties. Mappi River Post which was raided by Japanese planes on Monday is about 100 miles north of Merauke. In the Solomons American Flying Fortresses have made wide attacks on Japanese positions. DAMAGING BLOWS STRUCK IN SOLOMONS AREA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.52 a.m.) RUGBY, May 12. The United States Navy Department states: “In the South Pacific yesterday, Flying Fortresses bombed Japanese installations at Kahili, on Bougainville Island, and targets on Shortland Island. Fires were started at Kahili, but the results of the attack on Short'land Island were not observed. Bombers and fighters attacked Japanese positions at Rekata, on Santa Isabel Island. Two barges and one seaplane were strafed. The seaplane was set on fire. All our aircraft returned.