FIERCE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT REPORTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1942, Page 3

FIERCE NAVAL ENGAGEMENT REPORTED

Thousands of Prisoners Taken by Americans BUT ENEMY RESISTANCE STILL MAINTAINED SUCCESSFUL ALLIED AIR ATTACK ON TIMOR LONDON, August 16. Washington is still silent about the Solomon Islands battle. In Australia, Mr W. M. Hughes said the offensive had been a revelation of the strength of the Americans. The Japanese were not the equal of the United States Marines. Japanese-occupied Timor has again been successfully attacked by bombers. The targets included troop concentrations, building’s and road transport. Allied troops are still keeping up organised resistance in this area. At Kokoda, in Papua, the reinforced Japanese forces are maintaining pressure against the Allied forward outposts. The full-scale naval battle in the Solomon Islands area continues. No further official details have been announced, but in Washington a naval spokesman stated that American and Japanese warships are engaged in a terrific gunfire duel at close range. With air superiority, the Allied planes are also bombing enemy ships. In the land fighting the United States Marines are reported to have taken thousands of prisoners and to have inflicted heavy casualties, but there is still no indication of a collapse in the enemy resistance.