ENEMY POSITIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1943, Page 3

ENEMY POSITIONS

TAKEN BY AMERICANS ON GUADALCANAL AIR & SEA OPERATIONS. JAPANESE SHIPS DAMAGED. LONDON, January 25. In the Solomons, American troops on Guadalcanal Island have captured several important Japanese positions west of the airfield. At least 200 Japanese were killed. Japanese positions on an island in the New Georgia group have been bombarded both by air and sea forces. Fires and explosions occurred. A large Japanese destroyer and a convoy ship were damaged by American aircraft in the Shortland Island region. ARDUOUS TASKS PENETRATION OF JUNGLE COUNTRY. ENEMY CLOSELY BLOCKADED. (Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) A SOUTH PACIFIC BASE, Jan. 21. The United States forces on Guadalcanal are completing preparations in their own time for an offensive designed to clean out the several thousand Japanese troops who remain on the island. The latest communiques, reporting gradual advances on the island and a considerable slaughter of Japanese, indicate that the preliminaries have already begun. They suggest a straightening and consolidation of the western battle line. The Americans have time and the initiative on their side, and they can afford to make their plans with caution. Meanwhile, the resistance of the Japanese is probably growing weaker as a result of the tight naval blockade, and as the Americans gain information about the strength and disposition of the enemy. Even the newly-arrived American reinforcements have had an opportunity to settle down and become acclimatised. In some important respects the United States ground forces face a task more difficult than that undertaken by the marines in the original landing. That operation was a highly centralised affair, whereas today, as the westward advance continues, the problem of supplying the forward troops becomes increasingly heavy. The Americans are meeting it with typical resourcefulness, driving new roads along ridges and through the jungle hard on the heels of the fighting men. But in parts of the line, water, ammunition and food have to be carried in, and wounded carried out, by hand over extremely difficult country. The nattire of the fighting has changed, too, as it has moved beyond the open grassy plains and knolls about the airfield, and entered the dense jungle. This spells the end of comparatively orthodox battle tactics, and the American patrols now have to stalk the elusive Japanese through jungle that looks very much like virgin New Zealand bush. Perhaps fewer than 10,000 strong, the Japanese have for many weeks been receiving only limited supplies. Recently they resorted to dropping food by parachute. Even if now, in desperation, they risk more ships to get supplies through, they will still be far behind the Americans in the race to reinforce. In all these weeks, ship after ship has discharged its cargo of troops, ammunition and food or fuel at the American beach-head without being molested. Furthermore, the American control of the sky is now securely held. NEW ZEALAND CO-OPERATION. New Zealand air and sea forces are playing an important part in the effective blockade of the Japanese-held coastline. Reconnaissance bombers of the R.N.Z.A.F., on regular far-reaching patrols, keep enemy shipping movements under close watch, acting as eyes for the American air striking forces. Mine-sweeping and anti-submarine ships of the New Zealand Navy have joined the flotilla of Allied war vessels patrolling the southern Solomons waters and screening the arrival and departure of freighters and transports. Morale on the island is good, in spite of the climate, which, with its oppressive, sticky heat and regular tropical downpours, is one of the most unpleasant in the world. The food, which includes a considerable amount of fresh meat ,with turkey on special occasions, is better than is to be found in some of the less advanced bases.