CONTINUED PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1943, Page 5

CONTINUED PROGRESS

MADE BY AUSTRALIANS IN NEW GUINEA ATTACK ON FINSCHHAFEN. JAPANESE SHIP SUNK OFF NEW IRELAND. LONDON, September 26. In New Guinea, the Australians were last reported to be only 1000 yards from the -Japanese base of Finschhafen. They forced the crossing of the Bumi River under enemy lire. -Japanese aircrafi which attempted to attack the Australian troops were driven off by Allied planes. Allied fighters intercepted a force of nine Japanese bombers covered by 30 fighters which were approaching to attack our ground forces. The enemy planes were forced, to jettison their bombs harmlessly before reaching the target. One enemy fighter was shot down and another probably destroyed. Two Allied fighters were lost. General Mac Aurthur’s heavy bombers on reconnaissance off New Ireland sank a 2000-ton Japanese cargo ship. Enemy aerodromes and installations cf New Britain are feeling the weight of persistent attacks by Allied bombers. A raid before dawn on the enemy’s new airfield at Cape Hoskins started fires in supply and ammunition dumps. One of our planes failed to return. Dive-bombing attacks were made on Gasmata Island and many hits were scored on the target area. Bombers also pounded the building area on the Japanese-occupied Rooke Island, in Vitiaz Strait, between New Guinea and New Britain. In the central Solomons, Admiral Halsey's bombers at night attacked three medium cargo vessels and a cruiser off Buka Island, with unknown results.