POWERFUL FLEET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 August 1942, Page 3

POWERFUL FLEET

EMPLOYED BY THE ALLIES In Attack on Solomons ENEMY AIRFIELDS AS PRIMARY OBJECTIVES REPORTS SAID TO BE ENCOURAGING (By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.) SYDNEY, August 12. Fifty Allied warships and 100 transports carrying troops and equipment are believed to be engaged in the battle for the Solomons. The official reports are expected to reveal that the attacking fleet is the largest yet employed by either side in the Pacific war, and fairly heavy losses are expected. The latest Washington messages published here indicate that the Allied land forces have gained some success in the face of strong Japanese counter-attacks. United States marines, now supported by United States Army troops, have been engaged in desperate hand-to-hand fighting on the beaches and in the jungle hinterland of the south-east Solomons. The enemy airfields on Tulagi and Guadalcanal are believed to be the primary objectives, and with these airfields in our possession Allied landbased aircraft would make it costly for the Japanese to attempt to bring up reinforcements. Reports from Hawaii state that the Japanese are fighting fiercely to retain their positions, realising what a heavy blow the loss of these islands would be to their Pacific strategy. Australian newspaper correspondents in the United States say that this, the first seaborne offensive in America’s history, has sent a wave of confidence through the country. There is an optimistic note in all newspapers. Though the public is reconciled to heavy losses, it is keenly gratified to know that the Allies have at last gone after the Japanese and are hitting hard. The Solomons battle is known to have been discussed at today’s meeting of the Australian War Cabinet. The latest dispatches are s,aid to be “encouraging, but to give no cause for premature rejoicing.’’ Australia is prepared for losses among her naval units engaged. No Australian troops are taking part in the operations. Allied aircraft of the South-West Pacific Command are maintaining their attacks on enemy shipping and reinforcementbases. American war correspondents in Australia in messages to their papers continue to be cautiously guarded in assessments of the value of the present operations. “Though the offensive continues over a 1000-mile area it cannot be considered as approaching a ‘second front’ conception,’’ says Mr Lewis Sebring, of the “New York Herald-Tribune.’’ “A ‘limited offensive’ is the more accurate description.’’ Mr Eryon Darnton, of the “New York Times,’’ draws attention to the restricted supplies reaching Australia, “Some may have thought the news of the offensive contradicted the news of the Australian equipment position,’’ he says. “However, the Solomons offensive is being run by Vice-Admiral Ghorailey, and not by General MacArthur. The announcements setting forth the equipment position of General MacArthur’s area were factual.’’