AIR BATTLE IN SOLOMONS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23974, 15 June 1943, Page 5

AIR BATTLE IN SOLOMONS

TWENTY-FIVE ZEROS SHOT DOWN JAPANESE FORMATION INTERCEPTED (M.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONOON. June 13. Twenty-five of a formation of 40 to 50 Japanese Zero fighters were shot down by United States Navy, Army, and Marine Corps pilots in a furious dogfight near the Russell Islands, north-west of Guadalcanar, in the Solomons. A communique says; “During Thursday night Flying Fortresses and Avengers bombed and started fires among Japanese positions in the Buin area. On Saturday morning, American fighters intercepted between 40

and 50 Zeros and shot down 25. Eight more were probably brought down. The American losses were six aeroplanes, but four of the pilots are safe. “The same morning Liberators encountered two Mitsubishi bombers 20 miles west of Buka Island, which is north of Bougainville, and destroyed one. . T ,. '‘During Friday morning Liberators, Mitchells, Lightnings, and Warhawks carried out five attacks against Japanese installations on Kiska, in the Aleutians. Hits were scored in the main camp area and on a runway. Barges in the harbour were bombed and strdfdd ** On Tuesday night United States Army patrols on Attu killed 66 Japanese and captured one in the between Sarana Bay and Cape Khlebnikov. There has been no enemy activity on other parts of the island. “The second great air battle over the Russell Islands was an even greater victory than that on June 7, in which a similar number of enemy aeroplanes were intercepted, 19 being shot down,” says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times. “These comparatively large-scale air actions, coupled with the battle over Bougainville Island on June 5, when 15 Zeros were destroyed, give convincing proof of United States' air superiority in the Solomons. At the same time they indicate Japanese ability to muster strong opposition. ■ “The actions also demonstrate the strategic importance of the Russell Islands as a defence outpost for Guadalcanal lying to the south-east Both the defeated enemy •.air were evidently headed for Guadai canar, but were smashed before reaching their objective." PROSPECTS IN pacific AMERICAN PRESS COMMENT (Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK. June 14. Commenting on' the statement last week by the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr J. Curtin), the New York “Herald-Tribune” says: “Mr Curtins carefully guarded announcement, though obscure, is almost cheerful. Optimism of any sort from Mr Curtin is so rare that it is bound to raise exoectations for the Pacific theatre. The capture of Attu Island, in the Aleutians, seems an obvious preliminary to additional operations “Some observers are already visual, ising a grand pincer movement launched simultaneously from the Aleutians and from Australian and other southern Pacific bases. Such visions are premature, as the main route of attack against Japan is still through Burma and China. Decisive results m the Pacific theatre cannot be expected in 1943. But it is impossible not to feel that the Pacific, when properly correlated to global strategy, holds important opportunities for offensive action. “Japan’s leaders are aiming at a compromise peace with the Allies,” says Hallett Abend, formerly “New York Times” correspondent in the Far East. “They expect the Allies to be warweary after bringing Hitler to unconditional surrender. “But any compromise proposed by Japan would leave her in possession of at least half her present gains. It would be a victory for Japan. She would prepare and wait for a new opportunity to attack us. Unless Japan is completely smashed she will start another war, probably within 20 years.” NIBBLING BETWEEN MEALS WORKERS IN DRIED FOOD FACTORIES (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, June 14. Nibbling between meals is being abandoned by workers in Australian dehydrated meat and vegetable factories. This is because too much 'rich food has caused distended stomachs among workers. Many sorters and packers new to the job found themselves unable to resist the temptation to nibble tasty bits off the trays as they passed through their hands. Later the nibblers became thirsty and drank considerable quantities of water. The five or six ounces of dehydrated meat they had eaten became 30 or 36 ounces of stewing meat once it was mixed with water. The result was a distended stomach and acute indigestion pains. One bout of indigestion had been found an infallible cure for nibbling. TWO EARTHQUAKES RECORDED ORIGIN THOUGHT TO BE IN JAPAN (Rec. 9 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 13. Fordham University recorded two earthquakes at 1-24 a.m. and 4.50 a.m. to-day, about 6800 miles from New York. They are believed to have been in Japan. One disturbance was very severe. Father Lynch, Fordham University's seismologist, believes that the earthquakes occurred on the mainland of Japan. The first earthquake moved the Fordham seismograph several inches, indicating a disturbance of major proportions about half as severe as that which killed 100.000 persons and ravaged Tokyo and Yokohama in 1923. Father Lynch said that the latest earthquakes were the most severe Japan had had ‘ since 1P33. when an offshore earthquake caused a disastrous tidal wave. Father Lynch, in a speech last January, predicted that Japan would experience a severe earthquake in about a year. Savings in Britain. —The sum of £27,452,683, the highest figure yet recorded for one week’s small savings, and representing £1 0s 2d a head, was collected in Britain last week. This beats the previous record for the week ended June 5 by nearly £1.000,000. and it compares with £11.574,457 for the corresponding week last year.—London, June 13.