Evening star., 1943-07-11
Jap Naval Units
Blasted, Nunda
Base Isolated
Supply Port Cut OFF;
Cruisers, Destroyers
Attacked by Planes
By the Associated Press.

bs the ASSOCldleQ BreSS.
ALLIED HEADQUARTERS IN
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, Sunday
July 11.-American planes bombed
japanese cruisers and destroyers
attempting to sneak up in the pre-
dawn darkness Saturday to the aid
of the enemy's imperiled Munda all
base, now cut off by American
troops from its supply port above il
on New Georgia Island.
Two 500-pound bombs scored hits
on the enemy ships approaching
New Georgia. What damage they
dealt could not be observed ano
since then the whereabout of the
enemy force has not been reported
On New Georgia ITSELF. where
United States forces have frightened
pincers since making landings
July 5, official reports from Admiral
William F. Halsey's command said
our troops had built fortified road
block, cutting the 8-mile-long COM
munication line between the main
japanese holdings at Munda and
enemy posts at Bairoko on the
Kula Gulf.
Tried to Force Passage.
The japanese lost no time In at
tempting to force a passage. The
first two groups to make the at
tempt were thrown back with go OF
their number killed.
While one American force was es-
tablishing and holding the road
block, other elements which landed
at Rice anchorage near Bairoko,
pushed south three miles to secure
positions at Enogai inlet above
Munda. On the other end of the
pincers, Americans consolidated po-
sitions three miles east of Munda.
Operations in the past 48 hours
may have isolated the japanese
still holding out in the Bairoko Har-
Dor sector and brought the Ameri-
cans with artillery close to the outer
perimeter of Mundas defenses.
Plane Sighted Ships.
The only attempt of the japanese
yesterday to loosen the Americans
closing grip on Munda was an in
effective effort by six of their planes
to bomb our artillery positions sev-
eral miles to the east of the base.
A Catalina flying boat on patrol
first detected and attacked the force
of Japanese cruisers and destroyers
as they were steaming southeastward
near Choiseul Island late Friday
night. Some time later, force of
a big four engined Liberators drop
ped 500-pound bombs, of which two
were seen to score direct hits. But
the returning airmen we're unable
to report positive results because of
darkness and bad weather.
When last seen, the ships were
east of Kilombangara Island at the
mouth of the Kula Gulf where the
first enemy naval attempt to run
the gauntlet to New Georgia was
smashed before dawn July 6 by
American naval guns which sank
at least nine japanese cruisers and
destroyers.
Continuing to pound the New
Georgia area, the American COM
mand yesterday sent over strong
formations of Avenger torpedo and
Dauntless dive bombers which un-
loaded Ct tons of high explosives
on ground batteries, camp and sup
ply installation areas.
The japanese air force appar-
emily made no attempt to. counter
the crushing attack.
Continuing the job of cleaning ur
after the Kula Gulf battle, Mitch
ellis bombed and strafed japanese
destroyer found beached off the
coast of Kolombangara Island.
Reports indicated static grouno
operations in the Salamaua sector
(Cen pACTETC pace A.1sl