ALLIES LAND IN TULAGI AREA

Southland Times, Issue 24820, 12 August 1942, Page 5

ALLIES LAND IN TULAGI AREA

DIFFICULT OPERATION WASHINGTON, August 10. Striking swiftly and unexpectedly three days ago in the direction of the Japanese bases in the Solomon Islands the Allied forces have achieved what Admiral E. J. King, Chief of Naval Operations, describes in a statement issued in Washington today as “planped landings” in Tulagi area. The state- * ment reads: “Offensive operations by United States naval and other forces looking to the occupation of the Tulagi area of the south-easterly Solomon Islands have now been under way for about three days. The operations are under the immediate command of ViceAdmiral Robert L. Ghormley, Comman-der-in-Chief of the South Pacific area, and under the general control of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the American Pacific Fleet. Certain forces under General MacArthur are co-operating. “The objective of the current operations is to expel the Japanese from the Tulagi area and make use of that area for our own purposes. The enemy has been in the process of consolidating these positions and their purpose has been not only to deny them to us, but to use them as a base for offensive operations against our positions which cover the line of communications to Australia and New Zealand. Hie initial surprise was effected by the well-timed landings we accomplished. The enemy counter-attacked with rapidity and heavy fighting is still in progress. Our operating forces are employing all available communications in the conduct of the operations so that cur information is incomplete but it appears we had at least one cruiser sunk, besides two cruisers) two destroyers and one transport damaged. Likewise information as to the extent cf the damage inflicted on the enemy is incomplete, but it includes a large number of enemy planes destroyed and surface units put out of action. _ ; “This operation in the Tulagi area , is significant in that it marks our first | assumption of the initiative and offensive. It is obvious that operations in 1 the Pacific, however successful, have been initially of a defensive character i and it should be understood the opera- ; tion now in progress is one of the most complicated and difficult in warfare.”

HEAVY ALLIED AIR _RAIDS IMPORTANT EFFECT (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 11.20 pan.) SYDNEY, August 11. Continued devastating raids by Allied bombers on enemy aerodromes at Lae, Salamaua and Rabaul have had a highly important effect on the general operations in the Solomons. This was stated today by a spokesman at General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters. “No Australian ground troops are engaged in the great battle now reaching its fourth day,” declared the spokesman, thus denying a previous statement that Australian commando units were involved in the land fighting. Considerable significance is attached to the Allied bombing raids on an enemy shipping concentration south of Timor, but no clear indication of the battle raging on the huge front is yet available at South-West Pacific headquarters. ’ Confirmation of the Allied troop landings in the Solomons has given some encouragement to optimism here. Commenting that “too much must not be expected too quickly,” The Sun in a leader says: “If this operation is crowned with success and Japan loses control of the Solomons with all their facilities for air and submarine bases from which to harry the east coast of this continent, victory will be worth the losses. It will break any legend which may be fostered throughout Asia and in Japan concerning the invincibility of Japanese arms. It will be the beginning in reverse process which in time will recover the Japanese conquests. It will give some immediate relief against the Japanese threats to New Guinea and the east coast of Australia.” FIGHTING IN PAPUA Australian troops in Papua have engaged the Japanese and driven them back from prepared positions at Kokoda. Casualties were inflicted on the Japanese. This was announced in today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters, which also reports attacks by Allied bombers on enemy shipping south of Timor. A medium-sized cargo vessel received three direct hits and was heavily damaged and left ablaze. Another smaller cargo ship was hit twice and probably sunk, and a large enemy destroyer was badly damaged by at least three direct hits. All our planes returned from this operation. Medium bombers maintained attacks on enemy aerodromes in the Rabaul area. Large fires were started and were visible 50 miles away. An memy bomber was destroyed.