Heavy Strafing of Japs Continues

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 112, 5 September 1942, Page 5

Heavy Strafing of Japs Continues

Anticipations of Large-scale Fighting (By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Friday, 11.20 P.m. SYDNEY, Sept. 4. The Allied Air Force in tha South-west Pacific on Thursday extended its raids against Japanese bases in the Northern Solomons. Targets at Buka, Bougainville and Faisi were all attacked following the previous day’s heavy raids on Buka. Enemy airfields were our main objectives, the raids being no doubt designed to hamper the renewed Japanese operations against the American-occupieo islands in the South-east Solomont. In a dawn raid on Buka an Allied medium bomber unit scored four direOv hits on the aerodrome fuel dumps, starting fires. At Kieta enemy installations on landing grounds were attacked with unknown results. An Allied offensive reconnaissance unit strafed an enemy fiyingboat in Faisi harbour. Kieta is the administrative capital of Bougainville Island, one of the largest of the Solomons group. Buka lies almost directly north, and Fiasi to the south. Kieta is an important baee both of landbased and sea airoraft, while Faisi ia a seaplane base. Buka, the chief enemy base in the Northern Solomons, is strongly fortified. Although Japanese aircraft have been active against the positions In the American.occupied islands of the group their offensive lull in the areas under General MacArthur’s command continues. No enemy attempts to Intercept raiding Allied aircraft have been reported. In the New Guinea area Allied bombers struck enemy installations at Salamaua while in the Kokoda area our fighters again bombed and strafed enemy lines c. communication. The only Allied ground activity on Thursday wae the continuation of guerrilla mopping-up operations in Milne Bay. Commentators bars continue to emphasise that fiercer fighting both in New Guinea and the Solomons must be expected. Referring to the Japanese land push towards Port Moresby from Kokoda the Sydney Morning Herald says; "It is hard to believe that the enemy will not sooner or later attempt to support his land approach by naval action in force from one side or both sides of the sea passage between Australia and New Guinea." The paper emphasises “the antlike pertinacity of the Japanese in penetrating difficult country,” and says: “Our air superiority over New Guinea has not ahaken their hold on the BunaKokoda supply route although It has delayed enemy progress." Australian opinion that the South Pacific is on the eve of major battles is supported from the United States. The New York Times commenting on tfti New Guinea fighting, says: “Tokio intended to offset the Allies' Solomons victory b«, a full-scale descent on Port Moresby but their efforts were scotohed when they fell Into MacArthur’s trap at Milne Bay. The paper stresses the fact that time marches on the Allies’ side in the South Seas and if Japan Is to have any hope of success she must strike again soon. Other American commentators believe that Japan may be embarrassed in the South Pacific by the pledge Tokio is reported to have given Hitler to move against Siberia when the Axis reach the Volga. The New York Herald-Tribune says: “Rumours are insistent that Japan will attack Russia before September 19th at the latest. Such ,an attack would carry a great menace, also a great opportunity if America immediately throws her air and sea power into Vladivostock from where we could really hit Japan. We were caught unprepared at Pearl Harbour and the Philippines but if the war breaks in Siberia there will be no excuse for inertia and unpreparedness." The paper adds that the United Nations would also have an improved opportunity of broadening their South Paoiflo offensive.