TAKEN BY N.Z.E.F.

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 16, 14 October 1943, Page 5

TAKEN BY N.Z.E.F.

Island In Solomons

In a statement yesterday the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, said that Admiral Halsey, Commander of the South Pacific Area, had authorized the release of a communique in the following terms:

“That New Zealand forces in Vella Lavella have been in contact with the enemy and have played the major role in the taking of this island.”

By their occupation of Vella. Lavella the New Zealand troops are standing in the most advanced Allied positions yet disclosed in the Solomons. . The first Allied lauding on the island was made just on one month ago, as announced in a communique by General MacArthur, who commands the combineci offensive in New Guinea and the Solomons. New Zealand fighters gave air cover. At this time the Japanese were still stubbornly defending some of the positions on New Georgia Island, so the new bound had by-passed both these enemy troops and the strong enemy garrison on Kolombangara Island. On October 17, three days after the landing on Vella Lavella, the Allies raced and overcame a sudden Japanese, countermove directed against their positions on the island. This was a naval victory, fought by United States surface units against a force of destroyers and barges which were attempting to land some JW l ’ troops to strengthen the forces on the island. It was officially stated that no more than 300 out of the 2000 Japanese troops in this couvoy managed to laud. Soon afterward the Allies completed the occupation of New Georgia Island and moved on to reduce Kolombaugara, from which lhe small remnants of the Japanese garrison fled only last week. Authoritative details of the operations on Vella Lavella have not yet been given. Apart from small or otherwise. relatively unimportant islands, the remaining objective of the offensive in the Solomons is the main Japanese base of Bougainville, which is strongly garrisoned.