ACTION IN PROSPECT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1943, Page 3

ACTION IN PROSPECT

IN SOUTH=WEST & SOUTH PACIFIC PREDICTION OF AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT. MOVE AGAINST RABAUL v ' LIKELY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) PEARL HARBOUR, February 20. An Associated Press of America correspondent, Mr Frank Tremaine, states that well-informed sources indicate |hat after the defeat of the Japanese on Guadalcanal, the most important Allied operations can be expected in the South-West and South Pacific, requiring every available ship, man, plane and gun. He adds that two factors hint at the character of these operations—firstly, Guadalcanal and Buna are potential springboards for moves against Rabaul, and, secondly, the Japanese are now reported tb be concentrating forces at Rabaul. SHARP FIGHTING IN NORTHERN NEW GUINEA. ENEMY DETACHMENTS WIPED OUT. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 10. Australian troops fighting in mountainous country between Wau i and Mubo in the New Guinea goldfields are endeavouring to wrest the initiative from the Japanese. Exerting increasing pressure on enemy outposts, they killed 100‘Japanese in two clashes yesterday. The first" sharp skirmish occurred at Kunda bridge, four miles north-east of Wau, where our forward forces wiped out 60 enemy troops. In a second clash in the Wandumi area, eight miles east of Wau, 40 enemy dead were counted after the Australians had wiped out a Japanese pocket. AIR OPERATIONS IN NORTH AND SOUTH PACIFIC. ADVANCES ON GUADALCANAL. , (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 10. A Navy communique states: “In the North Pacific on Monday, Liberator heavy bombers and Mitchell medium bombers bombed a camp area at Kiska and installations on North Head. Seven float-type Zeros were observed on the water, but these made no attempt at interception. All the United States planes returned. “In the South Pacific on Tuesday, Airacobra fighters strafed and sank an enemy barge off Hooper Bay, in the northern Russell Islands. During the evening a force of Marauder medium bombers, escorted by Airacobras and Lightnings, bombed Japanese positions on Kolombangara Island. Results were not reported. During the evening, Dauntless dive-bombers, escorted by Lightnings and Wildcats, attacked Japanese positions at Munda. A large fire was started. United States ground forces on Guadalcanal have advanced to positions half a mile westward of the Segilau River ,in the vicinity of Domavoca, on the north-west coast of the island, and also north-eastward as far as Visale. No opposition was encountered. A large amount of enemy equipment was captured.”