LIKELY TO BE SHORT

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 37, 7 November 1942, Page 7

LIKELY TO BE SHORT

Lull In S.W. Pacific NEUTRALIZING JAP BASES

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received November 6, 10.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 6.

'Though combat activity throughout the South-west Pacific has been on a reduced scale during the past few days, there are many indications that the lull is likely to be short-lived. In the Solomons and New Guinea, as well as Timor to the north of Australia, the latest communique reports of operations by aircraft of General MacArthur’s Command imply both efforts to neutralize anticipated enemy blows as well as perhaps the attempted “softening” of the enemy’s north Papuan bases for fresh Allied advances.

The continued presence of Japanese shipping in the northern Solomons is revealed in today’s South-west Pacific Headquarters communique. Allied bombers are reported to have made a further night attack on concentrations in the Buin-Faisi area.. No indication has been given of the number of ships in the area, but most commentators believe the concentration has dwindled in size from that of 35 warships and nine transports reported there late last month. The results of the attack could not he observed. No raids on Rabaul have been reported since last Saturday, which may indicate a temporary lessening of Japanese activity at this base. During October, Flying Fortresses, without the loss of a single plane, made 12 raids on enemy shipping at Rabaul. A further heavy raid has been made by Allied medium and heavy bombers, With fighter escort, on the Japanese north Papuan base at Salamaua, Supply installations were attacked, causing explosions and numerous fires. Reconnaissance shows that many enemy barges and trucks were destroyed in Wednesday’s raid on Sanananda Point in the Buna area. Relentless Raiding. Both Salamaua and Lae have been relentlessly raided recently. These attacks are the'logical development of the Allied advance toward Buna, the third base for Japanese operations in New Guinea. The Allied purpose to neutralize these bases and prevent the passage of enemy supplies and . reinforcements can be clearly seen in the continued air attacks. The “New York Times” military commentator, Hanson Baldwin, warns, however, that the Allies are "still a very long way from eliminating these bases,” and adds that "another Southwest Pacific crisis will almost certainly occur soon.” He regards the arrival of substantial American air reinforcements in this theatre as a most encouraging sign, but says: “Our chief disadvantage in the South Pacific is still definite though diminishing Japanese quantitative naval superiority.” Our advancing troops in central Papua are still in contact with the enemy near Oivi. The Japanese are entrenched ou a hill near the village. They were forced to make some withdrawal in this area on Wednesday. The Japanese plan may be to delay the jkllied advance while stronger positions are prepared in the Wairopi area, which is more suited for sustained defence.

For tljp seventh time since Monday, Allied bombers have raided Portuguese Timor. Thursday’s raid was made by two formations of Hudsons, which attacked the villages of Maobisse and Aileu. Buildings were demolished and fires started. Timor has always been regarded as a logical main base for any enemy move against the northern areas of Australia. A considerable number of Japanese troops are stationed at Timor and the surrounding islands in the Arafura Sea.