The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-23

NGOIlV1Llue0 ITUIll rage ~
weekend bag of Japanese planes to
"a by shooting down an enemy
fighter over Timor Island0
Allied planes, with American fly
ing fortresses playing star role,
opened during the weekend a fer
ocious offensive on the Japanese in
vaSion area northeast of Australia.
% Were Caught Here
Twenty-Five of the total of enemy
planes destroyed or damaged were
bagged in this offensive, and the 23d
was shot down over the north Aus
tralian coast.
In addition, the allied planes
made a direct hit on a Japanese
ammunition dump.
In this offensive, one OF their
heaviest and most successful OF the
Pacific war, the allied air fleets lost
o total of two planes, and two crew
men Of a third we're wounded.
During the weekend the Japanese
bombed Darwin, the great allied
north coast base, and Rboome, on
the northwest coast, in addition to
Wyndham.
It was announced also that planes
believed to be Japanese had been
sighted over Townsville, on the
northeast coast both Saturday ana
Sunday. Apparently on reconnals-
sance, single planes flew high over
the town, which is on the important
east coast highway, at Midday.
Attacking an inland town for the
first time, the Japanese BOMBED
katherine, on the Darwin railroad
IT'S miles southeast of Darwin and
100 miles north Of Birdum, southern
terminus of the railroad, in an
evident attempt to cut the vital al
lied supply line to the north coast.
Between Brdum and Alive Springs
= eOO-mile defense highway con-
meets with the railroad leading 10
the south. zee, :, 49,
one aborigine was killed in the
Katherine raid. Little damage was
done.
Darwin also was attacked yeSter-
dav. for the sixth time, but no bombs
fell in military areas and neither
damage nor loss of life was re-
ported. .,,.os
ulanes made daring low-level al
tack in force on Lac, the great
Japanese invasion base on the
Huon Gulf.
Three ROmbers Put Down
They destroyed three great Japa-
nese bombing planes and nine fight
ers which they caught on the
ground, leaving them af1ame, ana
damaged two additional bombers ana
three fighters.
They pressed home their attack
Prime Minister John Curtin said IN
q conmunique, in face OF terrific
anti-aircraft gun fire and an at
tempted interception by Japanese
fighter planes.
Allied planes also raided Rabaul
harbor and airdrome, on the other
side of New Guinea, yesterday, hurl-
ing bombs direct into their target
area. .-.
TWO of a formation Of Japanese
fighter planes which challenged the
allied craft were believed shot down.
Prime Minister Curtin announced
also that allied planes had heavily
attacked Koepang, in Netherlands
Timor. Saturday, landing bombs on
the airdrome and the town and
fighting off interception attempts by
Japanese fighter planes. a..
A Port Moresby dispatch on the
allied New Guinea raids noted that
the allied air war in that zone was
rapidly changing from defensive to
offensive.
In addition to the allied aerial at
tack on Lac, an Australian patrol
made an audacious raid on a Japa-
nese base at Salamaua In the same
invasion zone.
They went right through the Jap
anese lines, gathered information OF
enemy strength and dispositions and
returned safe.
Japanese planes flew over Port
Mcresby yesterday, but did not at
tack.
Presumably they were reconnoi-
tering for their force which had
driven into the Markham Valley,
leading toward Port Moresby. from
the Lac Salamaua area on the north
coast.
Carrier Put Out
London, March 23-(UP)-An al
lied submarine torpedoed Japa-
nese aircraft carrier of the Dutch
island Of Bali March 2, and either
sank Il or damaged 1t so badly Il
Will be out Of action a long time,
ME Daily Telegraph said today in
. dispatch from Australia.
The dispatch was datelined AN
Australian Port" and said the sub
marine now Is In friendly waters,
presumably on Australia.
T.he commander sighted the car
rler when he bought his submarine
to The surface after staying under
Wafer All day. It was moonlight and
the carrier was about 1000 yards
away. screened by three destroyerS
ana moving toward the sub.
-Four torpedoes we're fired ana tne
commander believed the first ana
Iourth hit the carrier, judging py
ms time that elapsed between tne
sfing and the explosions.
Fiames leaped from the carrier
Is0 feet high,1 hesaid "WatchAnB
.hrotiea the periscOpe we could noE