COLONEL KNOX ON DEVELOPMENTS IN SOLOMONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1942, Page 3

COLONEL KNOX ON DEVELOPMENTS IN SOLOMONS

Attacking Forces Strongly Reinforced BREAKING JAPANESE HOLD ON TULAGI AREA DUTCH SUBMARINE SINKS TWO ENEMY SUPPLY SHIPS LONDON, August 13. “Very good,’’ said Colonel Knox, United States Secretary of the Navy, when asked how he felt about developments in the Solomons. Cblonel Knox had just had a routine conference with President Roosevelt. The latest agency messages state that the United States marines have been strongly reinforced and are breaking down the Japanese hold on the Tulagi area. A new landing has oeen made on a fourth island, Malaita, A submarine of the Royal Netherlands Navy, operating with the British Eastern Fleet, hit two Japanese supply ships with torpedoes. The ships formed part of a convoy. It is believed that both were lost. An Australian correspondent says that during the last 24 hours there has been a further improvement in the position in the Solomon Islands battle. The general feeling in Australia, is that the Japanese hold in the Tulagi area has been loosened by the American shock troops, who have been strongly reinforced. A Navy Department communique from Washington last night stated: “Operations in the Solomons area are progressing. It is confirmed that United States marines landed as scheduled on'three islands in the vicinity of Tulagi. The marines are now engaged in consolidating their positions. Supporting naval forces have been engaged in bitter fighting, details of which are not yet available. United States Army and Australian planes are continuing their attacks on enemy landing fields and shore-based aircraft. There is substantial evidence that the Japanese planned and had well under way the development of a base in the Tulagi area.’’