INITIAL OBJECTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1942, Page 3

INITIAL OBJECTS

ACHIEVED IN ALLIED ATTACK ON SOLOMONS Operations May Continue for Weeks DEVELOPING THREAT TO JAPANESE ISLAND BASES POSSIBILITIES OF MAJOR NAVAL ACTION (By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.) SYDNEY, August 17. The sea battle in the Solomons appears to have gone entirely in favour of the Allied fleet. After conflicting reports, the situation is now becoming clarified. The “Christian Science Monitor’’ states that the progress has been more favourable to the Allies than the terse communiques admit, with the American casualties below expectations. Washington realises that the operations may continue for some weeks, but it welcomes the possibility that the Japanese will be- tempted to send out a substantial naval force for a fight to a finish, the newspaper adds. “The initial objectives of the Allied attack have been achieved, and our forces must now consolidate their gains and rush up reinforcements and supplies to repulse the expected Japanese counter-offensive,’’ it says. “Observers admit that it will not be easy to consolidate gains scattered over a chain of islands 500 miles long and nearer to the Japanese strongholds in the mandated Marshall and Caroline Islands than to our own. ’ ’ American opinion on the struggle continues to dominate the Australian news pages. The “Christian Science Monitor’’ publishes a cartoon under the caption, “This is the combination for victory, ’ ’ It depicts an American marine mounted on a kangaroo leaping to the Solomons.

AMERICAN AIMS Captain Frederick Oliver, the “Monitor’s” naval correspondent, says that from Tulagi offensives can be launched against the Japanese base at Bougainville, in the northern Solomons, and then against strongly-held enemy positions in the Bismarck Archipelago.

“Success in such operations would remove all clanger of a Japanese descent on north Australia,” he adds. “It would be an important step toward the reduction of the Marshal and Caroline Islands. The Navy undoubtedly aims at ejecting the Japanese from these islands, as this would open the way for an attack on enemy communications in the China Sea. Naturally, so extensive a campaign cannot easily and quickly be completed, but we have begun to move. Eventually our goal will be attained.”

Senator Millard Tydings, of Maryland, who had a distinguished record in the last war, said in a broadcast, “There is reason to believe that the thrust against the Solomons promises considerable success. There is no doubt that large airfields will soon be built in the Solomons capable of accommodating vast numbers of aeroplanes, and from these bases we will strike hard blows- against the Japanese airfields in New Guinea, thereby greatly strengthening the defences of Australia and permitting a pincer movement aiming at driving out the enemy first from New Guinea and finally from the East Indies.”

The danger that the Solomons venture may ultimately divert much greater Japanese strength in the direction of Australia is foreseen by Mr Byron Darntbn, the “New York Times” correspondent here. Though the Commonwealth’s defences are greatly improved since the “dark days,” the recent revelations about the amount of American aid clearly demonstrate that the defences are not yet 100 per cent, perfect, he says.