FORCES IN SOLOMONS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 251, 24 October 1942, Page 5

FORCES IN SOLOMONS

JAPS. FEAR U.S. AIR POWER COUNTING ON NAVAL VICTORY.

P.A. Special.

SYDNEY, Oct. 23.

Australian - based medium bombers have made further attacks on the Japanese fleet in the northern Solomons. Early on Thursday morning they dropped ten tons of bombs on a number of ships dispersed in the wide roadstead between Buin and Faisi. Bad weather prevented .the observation of results. Strong anti-aircraft fire and searchlight opposition was encountered from the enemy ships, but all our planes returned safely. The attack was made through heavy clouds. Aerial reconnaissance has revealed considerable enemy shipping around Rabaul, as well as in the northern Solomons waters. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times emphasises that these aggregations of Japanese warships, auxiliaries and transports are large. "The transports are unquestionably carrying troops scheduled to follow up the victory which the Japanese hope to gain in a sea action." He says: "The outcome of such action is apparently being awaited by the enemy troops on Guadalcanar before launching a major offensive against United States positions. "At the same time the enemy appears to hesitate to enter a contest against the American Navy as long as weather conditions permit free operation of the air forces, since American pilots and planes, especially the divebombers and torpedo-planes, have demonstrated their decided superiority. However, such planes require fairly high ceilings, and the rainy season now opening may ground these planes, after which the Japanese might be able to achieve momentary superiority, in which event they will obviously try for a decisive engagement."