POWERFUL BLOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1943, Page 3

POWERFUL BLOW

STRUCK BY ALLIED BOMBERS AT, MACASSAR EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE. THE SOUTH PACIFIC BLOCKADE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, September 14. Allied heavy bombers on .Sunday night struck a powerful blow against the Japanese-occupied base at Macassar, on the south-west .coast of Dutch Celebes. A total of 27 tons of explosives and incendiaries was dropped on the waterfront and barrack areas.' Direct hits started many fires in buildings and warehouses near the wharves, in an oil storage tank area and in the centre of a military barracks. Fires were also started at Mandai aerodrome. One bomber was lost. Bombers and long-range fighters destroyed five loaded Japanese barges and a power launch in a coastal sweep in New Britain. The aerodrome al Cape Gloucester, at the western end of New Britain, was again pounded. “The air and surface war against Japanese barges is warming the seats of the enemy’s pants. Burn them up.” This message was sent by Admiral Halsey, commander-in-chief of the South Pacific forces, to Major-General Twining’s airmen and Commodore Moran's motor torpedo-boat crews, who are harassing Japanese barge traffic. This traffic is the enemy’s life-line supplying and reinforcing the central Solomjns. Unless the Japanese break Admiral Halsey’s blockade their garrisons on Kolombangara and Vella Lavella Islands are doomed. The barges range in size from small wooden boats to armoured and strong-ly-armed craft 100 ft. long, that can give motor torpedo-boats a good fight. Admiral Halsey's forces during last week sank 30, carrying fuel and ammunition. General MacArthur's latest communique reports that light naval craft damaged five enemy barges during a night patrol in Kula Gulf. Gunfire from the barges and shore .positions caused minor damage to our units. Allied fighters strafed and destroyed a Japanese barge and a fuel dump on Kolombangara Island.