Evening star., 1943-09-17
Lae's S Fall Imminent:
Allied Flyers Down
48 Planes al Wewak
All Liberotors Return,
Only One Fighter Lost
In Amazing Victory
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
Sept. II. - Reports from The
fighting front indicate Lac i.
tottering and its fall is i'm.
minent.
While Allied airmen marked ur
another amazing aerial victory over
the Japanese-with 48 and prob
ably 50 enemy fighters destroyed out
OF an attacking force of 60 to 70
strong Allied ground forces were
reported converging on the New
Guinea base for the kill.
More than Sc hours after the
Toxic radio reported that an air
and sea battle was in progress
between New Guinea and Kolom-
bangara Island in the Solomons
there had been no further word
of such an engagement either
from American or japanese
sources
Australian forces moving in from
the east have taken Malahanc
Wharfage, just outside the airdrome
and the town itself. A western force
has occupied Edwards Plantation,
not far from the town, and troops
are coming up fast from captured
Salamaua.
Japs Bombed Heavily.
The Japanese at Lac have been
bombed heavily since Allied troops
landed above and below that base
September and 5. What little there
is left of the small anchorage town
on Houon Gulf likely has been
smashed by artillery fire.
The desperate enemy at Lac prob
ably has taken worst beating of
any Nipponese force in this war.
1here is no indication as to the
number of japanese in the area
but flyers who have bombed and
strafed it the last few davs saw
antlalrcraft fire has been notice
ably weak.
1he brilliant aerial victory came
during a raid by Liberators with
hghter escort on the japanese base
at WeWak, New Guinea. Against the
overwhelming toll of japanese
planes destroyed. Every Liberator
returned and only one fighter was
lost.
Bombers shot down more enemv
planes than did their escortino
fighters in this latest blow at heavily
battered Wewak. Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur's communique TODAY said
they downed 80. probably 40. The
lighters accounted for nine definite
and one probable.
Sc Tons of Bombs Dropped.
But the bombers inflicted still
more damage. In Is minutes thev
concentrated &c TINS of bombs on
the Wewak and Boram airdromes
Direct hits destroyed 10 grounded
bombers and started many fires
among numerous other parked air.
craft.
Close to 450 japanese planes have
been shot down or DESTROYED at
WeWak in the last six weeks but
Gen. MacArthur's communique said
the enemy's air strength in this
theater now is larger than ever" as
result of continuous reinforcements.
The smashing WeWak victory won
the Allied airmen hign praise from
Gen. Macarthur.
Although almost invariably out
numbered, the 5th Air Force in mo-
ments of crisis has never failed me-"
he said.
Swift and sure in attack, tena-
cious and determined in defense, it
has proved itself the ideal weapon
of war. Its deadly efficiency has
never been surpassed
The hunt for enemy shipping con-
tlnued. Bombers attacked IS to 40
oarges along the New Guinea coast.
sinking Is and destroying or damag-
Ing the others. Three japanese cargo
ships were bombed and strafed in
Buka Passage. Another ship, 500
ton freighter, received direct hit
with 500-pound bomb and was left
stationary and listing
japanese planes ineffectively raid
ed Darwin, Australia, and Morobe,
New Guinea. Minor raids on Al
lied positions on New Georgia and
Vella Lavella Islands also were re-
ported.