ENEMY LOSING GROUND

Southland Times, Issue 24826, 19 August 1942, Page 5

ENEMY LOSING GROUND

American Progress

In Solomons

The Press Association’s correspondent at a South Pacific port states that the measure of success which has attended the Allied operations in the south-east-ern Solomons is such that the Japanese are now pinned down to a losing defensive in this area. Then’ position can only be regained by a naval success of the first magnitude. Already it can be said that from the strategical viewpoint the islands of Guadalcanar, Tulagi and Florida have been taken from the Japanese. This does not mean that the fighting has ceased or is immediately likely to cease, but it does mean that the Japanese can no longer use the group for the object for which they possessed them—and that was to aid their offensive against the Allied positions and supply lines in the SouthWest and South Pacific. The land fighting is still bitter. Therefore, while caution must still be used in assessing the general operational outlook, a note of victory can be struck

in examining the progress of the land actions. The Americans have successfully passed the stage of winning and consolidating bridgeheads. They have opened out general attacks on various objectives, and they are reducing them successfully. Everything now hinges on purely naval operations. FLEET AWAITS CHALLENGE The correspondent says it is probable that the fleet in general has now been able to withdraw its immediate support of the land operations and has stood out in preparation for meeting a Japanese naval challenge in force. Enemy units localized at the islands when the operations began have been sunk or have fled to the Caroline Islands. Ultimate success, therefore, turns on developing a crucial naval battle The Japanese may attempt a frontal assault with their main fleet, in which case disaster for them would change the whole complexion of the Pacific war. If they cannot break open and maintain the supply route to the south-eastern Solomons they must count the islands as lost.

The correspondent in conclusion says it is also clear that Vice-Admiral Robert L. Ghormley and his South Pacific headquarters staff prepared the whole scheme. It was approved and it was helped by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz at Pearl Harbour, and he also greatly assisted the tactical surprise and local advantages by organizing a diversion in the Aleutian Islands.

ALLIES USE CAPTURED AIR BASES

(Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, August 18. Japan’s hold on all the islands in the south-east Solomons is believed to have been broken. The latest reports indicate that the Allies are now using captured air bases in the islands. It is understood no Australian-based bombers have taken part in the Solomons offensive since last Wednesday. This suggests that the Allies now control sufficient islands to provide close air support. A Washington estimate says 5000 square miles, more than a third of the total area of the Solomons, are now under the control of the Allied forces. The important Tulagi harbour area is firmly held by American Marines, while Allied entrenchments on the other islands grow stronger daily. Despite the continued lack of official news it is reported from the Hawaii headquarters of the United States Pacific Fleet that there is an expectant air that the Solomons battle will soon end in a victory. A Washington report says Allied air reinforcements, arriving at the captured bases in the Solomons,, are not purely for defensive purposes to fight off Japanse counter thrusts, but' will also carry out an offensive northwards. Resistance is expected to continue on the larger islands in the south-east Solomons from enemy detachments which escaped into the jungles and mountains. Some American observers say the Solomons attack is merely a forerunner to a tremendous Allied Pacific push. The Allies intend to fortify the Solomons strongly, turning them into the “Gibraltar” of the South-West Pacific.

It is pointed out that the Japanese still possess air bases in the northern Solomons and they will be able to keep up raids on Allied positions. The primary Allied task will be to win control of the remaining air-fields and with all air-fields in the group under Allied control the task of crushing the remaining resistance should be comparatively easy. HEAVY JAPANESE ATTACK ON PORT MORESBY (Rec. 1 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 18. The heaviest Japanese attack on Port Moresby since the Allied offensive began in the Solomons was made early on Monday morning when 24 bombers dropped bombs on the air-field. This was the first large-scale- raid in the area since July 24. Although our fighters chased the enemy their planes were too high to intercept. Today’s Allied headquarters communique states that installations were damaged and there were some casualties. “Whatever the significance Monday’s bombing is something the Japanese were apparently unable or unwilling to venture during the earlier stages of the Solomons offensive,” states a war correspondent at General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters. For the third day in succession our medium bombers on Monday raided the Timor sector, the objectives being enemy dispositions and lines of communication. Allied aircraft on offensive reconnaissance bombed the enemy base at Kavieng, in New Ireland. Shipping in the harbzour was also attacked, but the results were not observed.

No further information was given today of the progress of the fighting in the Kokoda sector. The latest information was that the enemy had pushed south of the village. This means that the Kokoda air-field is behind the Japanese lines, but it is considered insecure. Possession of the air-field at the present stage is not an important factor.