PUT TO FLIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1943, Page 4

PUT TO FLIGHT

JAPANESE NAVAL FORCE MAKING FOR BOUGAINVILLE. RETREAT BEFORE AMERICAN WARSHIPS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 2. A Japanese naval squadron, of four light cruisers and six destroyers, headed towards Bougainville, was encountered, by American warships covering the Allied landing at Empress Augusta Bay. The enemy vessels turned and fled when the American warships moved out to meet them. A communique from General MacArthur’s Headquarters stages that naval forces drove off an enemy force of cruisers and destroyers in an action on Monday night. Japanese planes attacked the Allied ships, causing minor damage. Allied forces on Bougainville are advancing and inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese. A big Japanese transport was hit in an air attack off New Ireland and another big transport was set on fire off Bougainville. AIR BOMBARDMENT OF JAPANESE BASES. DURING AMERICAN LANDING. (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 2. Mr Vern Haughland, the Associated Press of America’s correspondent at South Pacific Headquarters says the Marines landed at Bougainville while Alh’ed naval and air task forces bombarded Buka and Shortland as well as routing an enemy naval force, which retreated without firing a shot. In Washington Colonel Knox told a Press conference: Our landing on Bougainville caught the enemy by surprise. -For half an hour before the Marines landed on Bougainville, Allied destroyers, only half a mile off shore, poured their fire into the jungle and mangrove swamps, knocking out Japanese strongpoints. If the Japqjiese Navy attempts to come out, cur Navy is ready. We have long been hoping that the Japanese surface.forces would come out, but so far we have failed to find them in force anywhere.