WEWAK AS TARGET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 October 1943, Page 3

WEWAK AS TARGET

ANOTHER GREAT BLOW STRUCK BY ALLIED BOMBERS MAIN AMMUNITION DEPOT DESTROYED TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, September 30. The main ammunition storage depot at the Japanese base at- Wewak, on the north coast of New Guinea, was destroyed on Tuesday in a devastating raid by Liberator bombers. The explosion, was the biggest seen by the air force in the South-West Pacific. The depot is believed to have been the principal source of supply for the enemy’s entire operations in New Guinea. The Japanese put up a screen of 40 fighters, eight of which were shot down and three others probably destroyed. Allied aircraft sustained damage, but all returned to their base. Today’s communique from General MacArthur, giving details of the raid, says: “Our escorted heavy bombers continued the attack to deny the enemy the use of air bases by dropping 145 tons of explosives on the main supply dumps and installations in the Wewak area. His principal ammunition storage depot halfway toward the east end of Wewak Peninsula was destroyed in a terrific explosion which obscured the entire peninsula. Flames were visible 60 miles away. A great fuel dump near Mission Point was destroyed. and eight large fires were started in supply dump areas near Boram. Numerous other blazes dotted Wewak Peninsula.”

The latest air attack on Wewak followed 24 hours after another in which some 60 Japanese aircraft were destroyed in combat and on the ground, three tankers were left on fire and sinking, and four merchant vessels ranging up to 500 tons were sunk or destroyed. In addition 29 barges and luggers were sunk or severely damaged. FURTHER GAINS IN ATTACK ON FINSCHHAFEN WIDESPREAD AIR RAIDS SYDNEY, September 30. In the battle for Finschhafen, Australian forces, have captured

further Japanese positions round the Bumi River. Some of our forward elements are between 600 and 700 yards from Finschhafen anchorage.

The Allied force advancing on Finschhafen from Lae has reached Mange Point, on the Huon Gulf, about 16 miles from Finschhafen. So far, they have advanced about 30 miles in a little more than a week through some of the most difficult country in New Guinea.

Liberators continued attacks on enemy communications in the Bogadjim area, south of Madang, the enemy base on the north-cast coast of New Guinea. They dropped 24 tons of 10001 b. bombs on the Yaula road, causing an extensive landslide obstruction in the narrow winding sector south of Daumoina. Admiral Halsey’s bombers, with strong fighter escorts, heavily attacked Kahili aerodrome and gun positions in the vicinity of Bougainville Island, in the central Solomons. Direct hits were scored in the supply and bivouac areas and on gun positions, and many fires were started. A force of 30 Japanese fighters challenged the raiders and two were shot down for the loss of one Allied fighter. Off Bitka Island, north of Bougainville, Allied aircraft on reconnaissance shot down two and probably destroyed a third of eight Zeros covering enemy shipping.

In Vella Lavella Gulf naval surface units sank three enemy barges attempting to run the blockade at night.