POWERFUL BLOWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 December 1943, Page 3

POWERFUL BLOWS

STRUCK BY ALLIED FORCES IN PACIFIC HEAVIEST BOMBING TO DATE OF CAPE GLOUCESTER. ADVANCES IN NEW BRITAIN , ' & NEW GUINEA. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, December 21. Three spectacular successes highlight today’s news of the mounting Allied offensive in the South-West Pacific war theatre. In easily the heaviest bombing attack ever made in the southern Pacific area, the Japanese base at Cape Gloucester, New Zritain, has been devastated with 41-1 tons of explosives.

American invasion troops on New Britain have now seized Lupin airstrip on Arawe and have already driven a mile beyond it. Australian troops on the Huon Peninsula in New Guinea have smashed Japanese resistance north of the Masaweng River, 12 air miles from Finschhafen, and are now pursuing enemy remnants.

All these developments, ■ which are reported in General MacArthur’s latest communique, underline the new offensive phase of the Pacific war. No important Japanese counter-activities either in the air or on land are reported. The great raid on Cape Gloucester was made by two waves of Liberator and Michell bombers with a strong fighter escort. The Japanese, however, did not attempt air interception.. The whole area was systematically plastered with bombs weighing up to 10001 b. The central objective was Target Hill, which the Japanese had heavily fortified with anti-aircraft batteries.

The raid brought the aggregate tonnage of Allied bombs dropped on Cape Gloucester since December 1 to 1900. At Arawe, on the south coast of New Britain, the American invasion troops after capturing Lupin airfield are steadily expanding the perimeter of their beachhead. They have encountered no organised ground opposition. In the face of our fighter support, Japanese air attacks are dwindling. The Australians driving against the Japanese north of the Mesaweng River routed one enemy strongpoint at the point of the bayonet. The enemy is fleeing in disorder, mortars flamethrowers, mountain-guns and other equipment, littering the path of his retreat. Strong artillery and tank support have enabled the maintenance of the speedy Australian advancesMotor torpedo-boats and aircraft supporting the Australian drive destroyed 15 enemy barges.

The Japanese aerodrome at Madang has been pounded with 43 tons of bombs.

FALL IN ENEMY AIR STRENGTH. In the Solomons, heavy air attacks have been made in the Buin-Faisi area where more than 100 of Admiral Halsey’s torpedo and dive-bombers destroyed numerous buildings, an ammunition dump and two bridges. The Japanese who made no reply to these air attacks, now have about 500 planes in the New Guinea-Solomons area, according to. Lewis Sebring, the New York “Herald-Tribune’s” correspondent at General MacArthur’s headquarters. This is more than 50 per cent, fewer than six months ago. This reduced number, says Mr Sebring, possibly accounts for the surprising decrease in recent Japanese fighter interceptions—while the Allies, with clear air supremacy now drop new record bomb tonnages almost daily.

MOVING OUT

JAPANESE IN SOUTHERN BOUGAINVILLE. NEW YORK, December 21. The Japanese are beginning to retire from the heavily defended southern part of Bougainville Island in the Solomons, said Admiral Halsey’s spokesman at South Pacific headquarters. Airmen have seen much foot traffic moving along the east coast trails which are the only route over which the Japanese in southern Bougainville are able to move by land because the American beachhead bars their way to the west. There is also a marked increase in barge traffic to the north. It is believed that the Japanese are moving considerable numbers from Buin to Buka.

TOKIO REPORT

4,500 JAPANESE KILLED IN GILBERTS. NEW YORK, December 20. Three thousand Japanese troops and ,1500 civilians in the Japanese naval service were killed when the United States forces landed at Tarawa and Makin Islands in the Gilberts, Tokio effieal radio stated. The American invasion force was estimated at 50,000 men. , “Before these overwhelming numbers the Japanese forces died heroically to the last man,” states the radio. “In the final charge against the invadeTs on November 25 the garrison commander, Rear-Admiral Kenji Shibazaki, was killed.” .