SUSTAINED ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1943, Page 3

SUSTAINED ATTACKS

ON JAPANESE POSITIONS IN SOLOMONS NUMBER OF SHIPS SUNK OR DAMAGED. PENETRATION OF MUNDA DEFENCES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, July 19. Operations in the Solomons area are recounted in General MacArthur’s communique today as follows: —Bougainville, Buin-Faisi: Our heavy torpedo and dive-bombers, with a strong fighter escort, attacked Kahili aerodrome and the remnants of enemy shipping in the harbour with 90-tons of explosives. Anti-aircraft positions and the runway and dispersal areas were heavily hit. One cargo vessel was sunk and two destroyers and another cargo vessel damaged. Thirteen intercepting enemy fighters were shot down. Four of our planes are missing. “New Georgia, Enogai Inlet: During the night, enemy float-planes ineffectively bombed our positions. “IVlunda: Our forward elements are attacking enemy prepared positions near the aerodrome. Our torpedo and dive-bombers in direct support attacked enemy positions at Lambeti and the aerodrome with 40 tons of high explosives.” “Kolombangara: In a night engagement with three enemy destroyers off the west coast, our surface forces scored hits on -all three vessels. At least one is believed to have been sunk. Later, attacking enemy planes were driven off by anti-aircraft fire, one being shot down. We sustained no damage. In another action, our light surface units intercepted and attacked six enemy destroyers coming down the west coast, scoring a torpedo hit on one. The enemy vessels turned back.”

NAVAL GUNNERY HIGH STANDARD SET BY ALLIES. SIX ENEMY WARSHIPS CRIPPLED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES NEW YORK, July 19. The first six Japanese warships sighted in the second battle of Kula Gulf, in the Solomons, were crippled with'n five minutes of the Allied cruisers opening fire. This is revealed by Commander Kenneth Ringle, Chief of Staff to the Admiral commanding the Allied task force, “The British and American units operated as one,” he said, giving the first detailed account of the battle. “The British manoeuvred and shot magnificently.” Commander Ringle added that the gunfire was so heavy and sustained that it was impossible to credit any individual ship, American or British, with any particular enemy ship sunk. The full Allied bag was a cruiser and three destroyers sunk, two destroyers probably sunk and four more destroyers damaged. The battle actually occurred north of Kolombangara, and not in Kula Gulf The Japanese ships were sighted in bright monlight shortly after midnight and about four miles away. The Allied formation swung across their bows. Of the enemy force sighted, only two destroyers were left afloat, and these took refuge behind a curtain of rain. The Allied force followed, and found a second group of enemy destroyers. These turned tail and fled, discharging torpedoes as they did so. One torpedo struck the American destroyer Gwin, which burst into flames and sank two hours later, while in tow. The Gwin was the only Allied loss in the action.

VICTORY AT ODDS JAPANESE FIGHTERS ROUTED IN NEW GUINEA. ENEMY FREIGHTER SUNK NEAR NEW BRITAIN. SYDNEY, July 19. Fifty Japanese fighters were routed by a much smaller force of Lockheed Lightnings in the LaeSalamaua area of northern New Guinea yesterday afternoon. Two enemy aircraft were destroyed, four probably destroyed and two more damaged without Allied loss. Land fighting also flared up again inland from Salamaua during the weekend. Sharp patrol clashes resulted in the capture of Japanese positions near Mount Tambu and Orodubi. Allied ground operations were supported by Mitchel medium bombers which made 25 strafing passes over the area. In the Huon Gulf, about six miles north of Salamaua, Allied surface units destroyed a large enemy barge. A war correspondent suggests that these units are patrol torpedo craft. A small Japanese cargo ship of 500 to 1000 tons has been sunk by our bombers off Cape Orford, on the south coast of New Britain. The ship was first located and attacked by a Mitchell on Saturday and left damaged. Yesterday morning other Mitchells found the damaged ship anchored close to the shore and sank it in five minutes. Over Darwin yesterday Spitfires shot down one of two enemy reconnaissance planes which had separated on reaching the mainland.