GOOD BEGINNING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1942, Page 3

GOOD BEGINNING

IN ALLIED OFFENSIVE NEED OF PRESSING ON. SUGGESTED OBJECTIVES. NEW YORK, August 22. Major Fielding Eliot emphasises, in an article in the “Herald-Tri-bune,” that the American successes in the Solomon Islands are no more than a good beginning. “It now remains,” he says, “to utilise the occupied islands for furtheroffensive operations. “The next United States move is likely to be directed against Bougainville (in the northern Solomons), where the Japanese are at preseht in considerable strength, but even Bougainville would only be a second step in an operation which must include within its objectives all the Japanese positions on the north-east coast of New Guinea and the Bismarck and Admiralty Islands. “Till these points are retaken we cannot consider our situation decisively improved in the south-western Pacific, and not till’then will we eliminate the Japanese from every base from which they can threaten Port Moresby and the cities and seaports of the east coast of Australia.”

HEAVY RAID MADE BY ALLIED BOMBERS ON RABAUL. LIGHT ATTACKS ON OTHER BASES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, August 23. After a lull of several days Allied heavy bombers yesterday made a heavy raid on the main Japanese southward base of Rabaul. Eight tons of bombs were dropped in a night attack on an enemy aerodrome, when runways and buildings were hit and fires started. There was no attempt by enemy night-fighters to intercept cur planes. A light attack was also made on the enemy aerodrome at Lae, New Guinea. Bombs were dropped in the aircraft dispersal, area, but the results were not observed.

On Friday, for the sixth consecutive day, the Allied medium bombers kept up the pounding of Timor. They again struck at Maobisse, the target of Thursday’s attack. Bombs landed at a crossroads and in the building area, where fires were, started. Three Zero fighters intercepted our formation, and one was shot down over the sea in a running fight. The Allies also lost one plane.

The comparative calm which settled in the south-west Pacific area during the past week is regarded as having a spurious quality. There is no further news of the land fighting in the Kokoda sector in Papua, but it has been announced that Australian militiamen distinguished themselves in clashes with Japanese patrols. SATURDAY’S RAIDS ON RABAUL AND LAE. CONCENTRATION ON . AIRFIELDS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day,. 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, August 23. Allied headquarters in Australia report that Rabaul and Lae were hit yesterday by bombers, which concentrated on airfields. In the Rabaul raid, which took place at night, eight tons of bombs were dropped on runways and hangars, causing fires. The bombers were not intercepted and returned safely. Bombs were dropped among grounded aircraft in dispersal areas at Lae, but the results were not observed.