TAKEN OF SOLOMON ISLANDS OFFENSIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1942, Page 3

TAKEN OF SOLOMON ISLANDS OFFENSIVE

Losses in First Assault Have Been Very Heavy BUT POSITIONS GAINED BEING CONSOLIDATED POSSIBILITY OF FLEET ACTION ON BIG SCALE LONDON, August 14. A Navy Department communique from Washington states that the task of consolidating the shore positions now held by United States marines in the Solomon Islands is progressing satisfactorily. Naval units are engaged in protecting the lines of communication and escorting supply vessels to the occupying forces. A message from Sydney yesterday said it was believed the Japanese had brought strong naval units into the action. Land fighting had extended to four islands. A note of restrained optimism is struck by the New Zealand Press Association correspondent at a south Pacific port in viewing the Allied operations against the Japanese positions in the Solomon Islands. He urges the continued need for patience and emphasises the impossibility at the present stage of drawing more than a few general conclusions about the development of the attack. It is clear (the correspondent says) that the American landing forces have gained bridgeheads at heavy cost. It is possible that, in proportion to the numbers of men who made the first assault, the initial losses might fairly be described as “terrific,” and it is also obvious that the ground won cannot be developed without paying a further heavy price. Authentic news which is filtering through gives cause at present for a hopeful outlook. It must be remembered that there has been no parallel to the Solomons action in the .present war, and the difficulties of such an operation would perhaps best be measured against those at Gallipoli in the last war, with the added complication given by the use of aircraft.