JAPANESE EFFORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 September 1943, Page 3

JAPANESE EFFORT

TO BUILD UP AIR STRENGTH IN NEW GUINEA RESULTANT WEAKENING IN OTHER AREAS. EMPHASISED BY GENERAL MACARTHUR. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, September 9. The Japanese are rushing planes from other fronts in an attempt to build up their air strength in New Guinea, where the Allied advances are increasing the threat to the enemy garrisons in the Lae and Salamaua areas. Allied air forces, however, continue to smash enemy attempts to interfere with oiir operations. .

On Tuesday, 21 Japanese planes were shot down in the South-West and South Pacific areas. Of these, 11 were destroyed over New Guinea, five in the Solomons, five in the Darwin area, and nine others were probably destroyed or damaged. Five Allied planes were lost.

Today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters says: “Our north-eastern forces (near Lae) continued to advance, dispersing minor enemy patrols. No heavy resistance has yet been encountered. The enemy made sporadic and ineffective air-raids during the day. One enemy fighter was shot down by anti-aircraft fire. “Our western forces in the Markham Valley are consolidating their positions to the front.

“Our southern forces are maintaining close pressure at Salamaua. Sharp fighting occurred in the coastal sector and near Bobdubi.

“Heavy bombers attacked enemy installations and supply dumps at Lae with 96 tons of explosives, causing fires which were visible for 15 miles and leaving the target in a pall of smoke. Attack bombers executed numerous sweeps along the Markham Valley Road, bombing and strafing enemy outpost positions. Fighters furnished protective cover. “In the afternoon, near Morobe, 65 miles south-east of Salamaua, an enemy formation of 27 bombers and a 0 fighters jettisoned its bombs and fled on being intercepted. Four enemy fighters were shot down without loss to us. “Eight enemy aircraft raided Buna after dark at high altitude, dropping bombs harmlessly in the sea and the jungle. “In his effort to rehabilitate his air forces from a succession of recent heavy defeats in New Guinea and the Solomons, the enemy is apparently drawing heavily from other fronts and is attempting to concentrate his main strength here. As a result, he is becoming weakened and vulnerable to air penetration in other theatres. “Our heavy units on night reconnaissance strafed searchlight positions at Wewak and bombed the building area at Finschhafen. “During enemy air attacks last Saturday our surface ships and anti-air-craft defences shot down two torpedoplanes and four dive-bombers. Damage sustained by our naval vessels was superficial.” The Japanese lost at least five of 20 fighters they sent to protect a lone reconnaissance plane over the Dai win area. Fighters intercepted the Japanese formation and in fierce dogfights five enemy fighters were definitely shot down and nine others destroyed or damaged. Three of our planes failed to return.