MORE WARSHIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1943, Page 3

MORE WARSHIPS

LOST BY THE JAPANESE IN SOLOMONS S’ AND TWO DESTROYERS SUNK. IN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT REINFORCEMENT. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY. July 21 The Japanese lost three more warships (a light cruiser and two destroyers) in a desperate new bid early yesterday to reinforce their Vila garrison. Vila is the enemy strongpoint on the southern tip of Kolombangara Island, in the central Solomons. Another destroyer was probably sunk and a fourth destroyer and one transport were damaged. Two transports were included in the convoy which was attempting to slip through the .narrow Blackett. Straits when it was attacked by strong United States bomber forces. The surviving ships of the convoy were forced to withdraw without completing their mission. Since the opening of the second Solomons campaign 20 days ago Japanese ships sunk have been: — Sunk: Three cruisers, 13 destroyers, one submarine chaser, five cargo vessels and one tanker. Probably Sunk: Five destroyers. Damaged: Five destroyers, three cargo vessels, and one tanker. The newest enemy convoy was located north-west of Vella Lavella, by Catalinas on night patrol. At dawn, Avenger torpedo-bombers, Liberators and Mitchells attacked. The detailed results are reported in General MacArthur's communique, which says that "the two transports with three of the destroyers separated and headed for Vila, with the remainder of the warships acting as a protective cover. Strong forces of our bombers in all categories attacked both groups during darkness and after dawn. Two medium and two dive-bombers are missing." BLOCKADE OF MUNDA.

Today’s communique makes no reference to specific progress by the Allied ground forces which are assaulting the Japanese airfield base at Munda, in New Georgia. But the enemy's supply avenues have been cut and it is reported that “slow but constant deterioration of the enemy’s beleaguered garrison can be expected unless our blockading line can be broken." An Australian war correspondent in the Solomons reports that Munda may fall within a week and that, at most, it can hardly hold out more than a fortnight. Bad weather and a difficult terrain have prevented earlier reduction of this important enemy base.

There is no fresh news of the Allied attacks on Bairoko, the only other Jap-anese-held centre on New Georgia. Communication between Munda and Bairoko was cut' recently. "As an army, the Japanese on New Georgia are trapped.” writes a correspondent. “At best, only isolated detachments can slip through to the eastern hills." General MacArthur's communique today also states: “Bougainville. BuinFaisi: Our heavy bombers attacked Kahili aerodrome with more than 42 tons of high explosives, starting fires and explosions. One unit bombed Ballale aerodrome. Enemy night fighters intercepted and one of them was shot down. One of our aircraft is missing.”