RATHER FEEBLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1943, Page 3

RATHER FEEBLE

JAPANESE AIR RAIDS ON WEST AUSTRALIA BOMBS DROPPED HARMLESSLY IN SEA. PLANES MAY HAVE COME FROM SUBMARINES. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY. May 23. Three Japanese bombers on Thursday night attacked an undisclosed target in Exmouth Gulf, on the western Australian coast, 700 miles north of Perth. The planes dropped only one bomb which landed harmlessly in the sea before they were driven off by anti-aircraft fire. Three bombers took part in a second raid on Friday night Nine bombs were dropped without harm into the sea.

Exrncuth Gulf is the most southernly point in Australia yet bombed by the enemy. The attack was made on an objective oppositte the small town of Onslow, population 1500, about 200 miles south-west of Port Hedland, which was bombed last year. Onslow is the port for a large pastoral and mining district. The raiding planes are believed to have been either flying-boats based on Java or Timor (each about 900 miles away), or float-planes launched from submarines. Because of the small number involved, it is unlikely that the planes were carrier based. Exmouth Gulf is the fifth point in Western Australia attacked by the Japanese. The others are Broome, Wyndham, Derby and Port Hedland. Broome and Wyndham have each been twice attacked.