ENEMY CRUISER BOMBED

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 291, 7 September 1942, Page 5

ENEMY CRUISER BOMBED

South-East New Guinea LITTLE NEW ACTIVITY REPORTED

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received September 6, 8.30 p.m.)

SYDNEY, September 6. A South-west Pacific Command communique states: “In south-east New Guinea medium bombers attacked a Japanese cruiser with unknown results. At Lae a reconnaisance unit destroyed a Japanese Zero fighter. There was no change in the position at Milne Bay, and the activity in the north-west sector was limited to reconnaissance.”

A navy communique in Washington states that the United States destroyer Blue and the small auxiliary transport Colhoun have been sunk during the past fortnight as a result of enemy action in the south Pacific. A spokesman of the Navy Department said that these sinkings had no connexion with the naval actions in the Solomons.

MANY JAPANESE TRANSPORTS

Moving South From China (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received September 6,11.25 p.m.) SYDNEY, 'September 6. There is no fresh news of the operations in the Solomons, but reports from Chungking state that strong enemy reinforcements are being rushed to the south-west Pacific. Six large transports packed with troops have been, reported in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the northern coast of China. Some transports are said to ■have reached Singapore, while others are steaming farther south. Some observers believe that these Japanese troops are being sent to reinforc the positions from which strong attacks can be launched against the American-occupied islands in the Solomons. An American news analyst, Mr. Mr. H. V. Kaltenborn, ■ predicts that large-scale operations will soon develop in the group. ‘‘Apparently the Japanese commander in the area has orders to retake the islands,” he says. India or Australia?

Other commentators suggest that the enemy troops movements are . the prelude to an attack on India. Australian opinion holds to the view that the Japanese must press on their efforts to cut Australia and New Zealand off from American aid, and the small enemy forces which have been flung on some of the American-occupied islands in the Solomons are thought to be probably the advance guard of an attempt at a strong counter-invasion backed by naval and air fleets. The Japanese are believed to be utilizing the present lull to build up their offensive strength. However, now that the American forces have had time to consolidate their Solomon positions there is wide agreement with General Wavell’s opinion that Japan’s run of quick successes is over, and that she will have to fight hard to hold her south Pacific gains, much less retrieve her recent losses or extend her conquests.