BOMB EXPLODES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1943, Page 3

BOMB EXPLODES

INSIDE JAPANESE CRUISER AIR ATTACKS ON RABAUL CONVOYS. LARGE MERCHANTMAN HIT AMIDSHIPS. . (Special Australian Correspondent.) • SYDNEY, November 16. The movement of Japanese shipping in the Rabaul area is continuing. A Catalina patrolling the sea-lanes to the north of this key enemy base has Scored a direct hit with a 10001 b. bomb on a light cruiser. The bomb struck (the after part of the warship and penetrated and exploded inside it. A 10,-000-ton merchantman was hit amidships with a 5001 b. bomb. Adverse weather and enemy fighter protection prevented close observation of the damage, but it is believed that both the cruiser and the merchantman may be a total loss. These hits were scored in night attacks during the weekend. The Japanese are apparently making some effort to continue to reinforce Rabaul. General MacArthur’s aircraft are maintaining a close watch over the area, and no movement of enemy shipping is allowed to pass unchallenged. The cruiser reported damaged in today’s South-West Pacific communique was escorting two cargo vessels headed toward Rabaul, and it was attacked 18 miles from the harbour. A second convoy, including the 10,000-ton merchantman which was hit, comprised a large cargo vessel, two medium cargo vessels, a tanker and a number of smaller ships. It was located and attacked 50 miles from Rabaul. Four bombs were aimed at the large vessel and one struck amidships, rocking the vessel with a violent explosion. Bad weather in the last 24 hours has prevented big-scale air operations .in most parts of the South-West Pacific but in the northern Solomons enemy airfields in the Bougainville area have ’been heavily bombed. There are no big developments in the land fighting, and the latest communique says that at Empress Augusta Bay there have been only patrol clashes. 4 — — GOING WELL THE SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN. OBSERVATIONS BY ADMIRAL HALSEY. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) NEW YORK, November 15. “The campaign is going a damned sight better than the schedule, but I refuse to gaze into a crystal ball,” said Admiral Halsey at a Press conference during a visit to Bougainville. “We expect the Japanese to try almost anything. We are never disappointed when they do. “The situation here is not the same as it was on Guadalcanal. We have got the stuff now and the Japs have not.” JUNGLE FIGHTING BRITISH GENERAL’S TRIBUTE TO AUSTRALIANS. SYDNEY, November 16. Major-General Lethbridge, head of the British military mission now touring the South and South-West Pacific areasj has arrived in New Guinea. He will~visit the forward battle areas at Finschhafen and the Ramu Valley. General Lethbridge, who arrived straight from an Australian jungletraining school, said that every member of the mission was profoundly impressed by the realism and spirit with which Australia was tackling the jungle-training of troops. .He said: “These are magnificent soldiers firstclass material. I don’t think anywhere in the world you will find a more formidable fighter than the Australian in the jungle.” .