Evening star., 1943-11-29
Jap Cruiser Blasted,
Seabees Rushed 10
New Gilbert Bases
BY the Associated Press.

AAS p1ODdUlc SlIlklQR OIL
japanese cruiser, reports of 1000
enemy dead on Bougainville Is
land and intensified aerial ac-
tivity high lighted a busy week
end in the Southwest Pacific,
while construction crews moved
into the newly won Gilberts to
the northeast.
A Liberator heavy bomber patrol
ling st. George Channel between
New Britain and New Ireland
Islands Friday night edropped a
l 1,0O0-pound bomb squarely on the
Jap cruiser. Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur reported.
The bomb pierced the ships armor
and exploded inside with flash that
lighted up the sky. 1t was the 49th
enemy warship sunk or damaged in
the Northern Solomons during No
vember. While Gen. Macarthur de-
scribes the cruiser as light" return
ing flyers said it was of the me-
dium class of $4,000 to $4,000 tons
displacement
1000 Japs Killed on BougainvilIe.
A spokesman for Admiral William
F. Halsey, South Pacific fleet COM
mander, reported that more than
1000 Japanese had been killed in a
Today battle on Bougainville, in
vaded at Empress Augusta Bay by
American marines November l
This, he said, brought to 1000 the
number of enemy dead in fighting
for that largest of the Solomon
Islands. American dead and wound
ed, including casualties among Army
troops which have reinforced the
marines, were given as 1000.
Fierce fighting on Bougainville
yielded another 300 yards for the
Americans bridgehead at Empress
Augusta Bay.
In New Guinea, Australians who
captured Sattelberg from the Jap
anese, advanced along the enemy S
line Of retreat, cut the Bonga- Wareo
trail on the north and captured
Pine Hill, dominating the north
eastern half of the important jungle
trail
Allied bombers carried out their
most extensive operations in weeks
Those Of Admiral Halsey's wing
alone dropped close to 200 tons of
bombs, without interception. Eight
key Japanese positions were as
Saulted.
Buka Island Blasted.
Liberators dropped 105 tons OF
bombs on enemy installations on
Buka Island. just off the northern
tip of Bougainville, and Mitchell
mediums followed with bombing and
strafing.
BUN, at the southeastern tip of
Bougainville, took a 71-ton bombing
from torpedo and dive bombers.
A heavy force Of Mitchells, cov-
cred by Lightning fighters, made a
low-level attack on the WeWak and
Boram Airfields, in Northeastern
New Guinea, destroying at least five
aircraft on the ground and damag-
ing some Is others Beaufort at
tackers hit Rabaul in force and re-
ported heavy concentration of
planes at that New Britain strong
hold.
Five Jap Barges Sunk.
Speedy PIT boats sank five barges
loaded with 200 Japanese troops
and artillery in Vitiaz Strait, be-
tween New Guinea and New Britain
Ten enemy bombers with a screen
of IS fighters caused some damage
to Allied positions at Finschhafen,
New Guinea, but were intercepted
on their homeward flight and eight
Jap fighters were shot down and the
other seven probably destroyed.
The Nays construction gangs, the
Seabees, were reported to have
moved quickly onto the coral atolls
of the Gilberts which were secured
last week by marines and infantry
at price costly to the invaders but
more costly to the defending jap
aneSe