AIRFIELD SHELLED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 36, 6 November 1942, Page 5

AIRFIELD SHELLED

Recent Heavy Fighting On Guadalcanal AMERICANS STILL ADVANCING

(By telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received November 5, 8.40 p.in.) WASHINGTON, November 4.

The coil tintlance of attacks by the niariites on Gt|ddaldafial incite cqteS that the Hof only control the situation in the immediate vicinity of their positions, j»ut are receiving qrtipje supplies for the iteeds. of an offensive operation, says the .Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.”

. Tonight's cdmpiunlqiib stioivs that the AiijerWah forced, both marlites and soldiers,'hhre apparently mastered in three months’ bitter experience, the type of jungle warfare hecessary to carry the attack to the Jilpfiriese. , When the Japanese landed 4* Guadalcanal in inid-Ocjtober they established their itodlri position, on a beach Sonip miles wrist of. the Americans' positions. , They .contacted otjr forces by pushing outposts eastward til) they wbrhhble to shell Henderson field and machinegun American pad fdlS. ... . Simultaneously, .. other Japanese forces harassed the Arnerlcaiiß ffoni the ea|st arid south. Japanese reinforcements landed east of held, pfohably hoping .to create a diversion, btit none is yet reported. Further Small Gallis. The communique states: ‘‘The United States forces oh Guadalcanal Island continued to attack the enemy west of our positions arid' made some flinkll gains. Army and niivy planes gave close support, to bur ground,forces, .bombing aud strafing enemy troops and positions. . “About 20 enemy machineguns and two small artillery pieces were captured. The advance Westward continued during the morning of November 3. There is no report of troop activity bn the eastern fliltik of OUr positibim. No import hup been received from the other areas.’ MORE CHEERFUL TURN IN PACIFIC Solomons And Kokoda (By Telegraph.—Pres® Assn.—Copyright.) (Special AUHteallttn Correspondent;) (Received November 5, 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 5. “The news from the South Pacific has taken it decidedly more cheerful turn," savs the New York ‘Sun,” commenting on the situation and on the capture of Kokoda. “In the Solomons one of the most encouraging developments is the reported arrival of new American aircraft,” states U illman Dtpbin, NeW York “Times” correspondent i|l an udvancei| Pacific base. ~ -i “The American troops, lie skid, 'arc beginning tv feel that the I’aciHp has biimrged slightly from l ie stillim ot a secondary front. Our filers think dial, While the Ptiejlie is not getting thawiw? attention as Europe. it is qt lelißt getting more consideration than it tVas.

"Japan lias been forced to setid some of her'pest pilots from lSurmi> and China to meet tlm Flynig Fortresses in ihb Pacific area. “Fortress pilots say that by Contrast with earlier inexperienced fixers sent jigaiust them, daring expert Zeim.piloid how plunge in to mix it with oar bombers.” ..... . , ■ The Call of Kokoda has made a tremendous impression on Axis-doininaptd Europe,' deelarbh the Miidrid' correspondent of the Amerlbiin Associated Press. He explains tluit when tile Germans became touchy ab'ogt the ‘‘last moments' of Stiilingrad, Nazi propiigandii deliberiitely played up the JtipaheSil offensive iu New Gullied, describing Kvkoua as the “JJpanese base ou the Ausirallati front.". It told newspaper readers, that General MucArlhur wap on the run iymJ it was only ii matter of days till Port Moresby, icll and tbp Japat>e,se pounced ou 'Australia. Now the word Kokoda has suddenly Jisappeared from the headlines, but. the upws of lls,'eliptijre hedi'd bn British and Americqn Broiidciikts,, has had ii *w<‘l‘P; ing effect on Continental peoples, who are beginning to discutss things that Berlin would prefer to squelch.

Visii May bo I’ostiioncd, . From Washington it is suggested that General MiieArthur may postpone suiy projected visit to the capital. His presence m the lighting Urea is likely .tv be held’indispensable at the present active stiige of operations, /kniei'icitii commeiitiitdrs Increasingly suggest that General MacArthur may soon be appointed c<miiitunder of the Army. Navy, anil air t'orces in both the South ami Soil th-west Pileitic arehs —In spite of an ollh'jal statement that uo, unification of Ihe two "om tmiinds is intended tit present. “Good lt|elics. plus excellent co-ordiua-tioii between the forces ill New Guinea and hcuihiuttrters in. Australia were responsible for the /Miled success at Kokodu,’’ says the New Yoi-k "Sun.” In prying tribute to General MticArtbur's organization mid strategy. . Tlie fCinimler [iv ih't' L'lllthd States Secretary of the. Navy, Colonel Kiiox, that there is no warrant lor optimism in the Solomons struggle is endorsed here. It is felt Hint nothing decisive hits yet been accomplished and that the Jitpunese .mve not yet firodticbd tlie maximum forces which they are prepared to risk m the South I’aeifiC. The Solomons fight is linked up with New Guinea, for the latter will affect the struggles at every stage. While the Americans retain the GuaJ’tlciiiml airbase mid Tiling! Harbour, the Japanese can still base shipping mid aititrilft. within eiisy striking distance, for wliicli ret|sOu thp renewul of the attack id regarded ah practically certain. Lat tlie Allies are i)ttliek-inin<|ed end growing Sen and air battles lire expemeil. The “Dally Telegraph” considers Utat in aifernl’i losses the balitiiCe is lieaj'i.y tigtiinst Japan and thqi Japan will lo*-e file iiur rijec ultimately. Memiwhile, tlie pace'is-growing hotter, not only iti the South Pacific, but also ou all tlie 1 aCiUc fronts.