WORK ON NEW BASES

Southland Times, Issue 24831, 25 August 1942, Page 5

WORK ON NEW BASES

American Activity In Solomons The Press Association’s correspondent at a South Pacific port says the scene in the south-eastern Solmons appears to be now mainly one of busy preparation for their offensive use in the future and to withstand any major attack by the Japanese. He emphasizes that the capture of the islands has to be followed by much intensive work before the new bases can be turned to good account in the offensive or defensive plans of the South Pacific command. In these plans it is obvious that undertakings against Japanese bases are considered the best means of guaranteeing the Allied defence and security of the more distant screen of Allied bases, and greater protection of Allied countries such as New Zealand and Australia. The correspondent pictures the Solomons scene now as being one where three kinds of activity are believed to be progressing. The first is the organization of new bases so that they can be used offensively; the second is continued consolidation of the protective ring of American positions around and beyond integral areas: and the third is the search by Marines for Japanese forces still in being beyond their forward positions in densely wooded islands. GUERRILLA GROUPS The latest communique by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz at Pearl Harbour confirms the statement made several days ago that the fighting has not ceased, nor is likely to escape, while there remain at large enemy forces which fled into the jungle after the capture of the islands and later drew together in guerrilla groups. The main purpose of these Japanese is to disturb and disrupt American activity and to maintain an information service to the enemy occupied islands of the northern Solmons and through them to the Carolines, where the eventual enemy command in this area is probably located. However, unless the Japanese can regain control of the island seaways there seems to be no immediate danger of the Marines being dislodged and of the islands again changing hands. The Americans hold the south-east-ern Solomons in a good, although wary, grip. Such an operation as that which resulted last Thursday in the Japanese landing a battalion on one of the islands does not argue a weakening of Allied sea control. In an area with so many channels and opportunities for concealment, a night operation of this nature is always possible. The main concern of the Allied fleet is to meet and defeat the whole force of Japanese naval power which can be brought to bear in an effort to break the offensive potential of the Allies in the South and South-West Pacific areas. Battalion, and even larger, attacks back on Guadalcanar, Tulagi and the neighbouring islands can be left to the land forces with a good measure of confidence. NAVAL ISSUE VITAL The naval future in the area still remains vital. No one can foretell exactly when or where the anticipated clash will come, but the Allied fleet is essentially offensive in character, notwithstanding the possible, losses since the opening of the operations. The Makin Island raid is not believed to be part of the Solomons operation, and the forces engaged were probably not detached from Admiral Robert L. Ghormley’s immediate command in the Solomons-New Caledonia area;.but the raid does not appear to fall into the

general plan of the Allies’ offensive intentions. Completely analogous with the British commando operations, it points to the great potential value of the Americans’ possession of and specialization in the use of amphibious forces under a unified command. Demonstrative of the use at sea of the military method practised so successfully on land by Japanese infiltration, it has the immediate result of clearing up one of many dangerous sores which the enemy has been able to break out on the flank of the Pacific supply and operational lines. The sudden switching of attention so far east should drive home the truth that is commonly overlooked: that is, that the river of danger to the Allied countries and islands in the Pacific has more than one ford. SOLOMONS IMPORTANT Provision Of Air-Fields (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 23. According to the United Press Senator Millard Tydings, of Maryland, a Naval Affairs Committee member, said the Solomons victory was the most farreaching Allied achievement towards Japan’s defeat, because' it provided suitable air-fields between Australia and Japan from which our planes could prey on Japanese shipping. He further predicted that attacks from the Solomons would conquer Japanese-held islands between the Solomons and Japan, thus providing stepping-stones carrying the Allied forces gradually northwestward towards Asia and, finally, towards Japan. Senator Tydings also believed the Solomons victory may postpone the Japanese attack against India, which was probably planned for a few weeks hence when the monsoon ends. GENERAL BRETT NOW IN AMERICA (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 23. The commander of the Allied Air Forces in the South-West Pacific, Lieutenant-General George H. Brett, has arrived in America. His arrival was a closely kept military secret until he landed at Miami (Florida) to address a graduating class of the Army Air Force Technical Training Command. Lieutenant-General Brett declined to discuss his plans or to say when he was returning to Australia.

AXIS PLANE SHOT DOWN OVER CYPRUS

NICOSIA, August 22. An Empire fighter pilot destroyed an Italian bomber, which crashed in flames near a coastal village. It was the first Axis plane shot down over Cyprus.