FURTHER OFFENSIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 February 1943, Page 3

FURTHER OFFENSIVE

IN PROSPECT IN SOUTH PACIFIC ACCORDING TO AMERICAN STAFF OFFICER. ENEMY'S HEAVY DEFEAT IN GUADALCANAL. (By Telegraph—PJress Association —Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 10. “We are going to take further offensive action in which the complete control, of Guadalcanal has an important part. 1 am not at liberty to say what that action will be,” declared Captain Miles Browning, a member of the staff of Admiral Halsey, Commander-in-Chief in the South Pacific. 4

He added that New Zealand had contributed to the success at Guadalcanal, which was a victory in which the American Army and Marine Corps had an equal 'share. But the importance of the gain must not ;be exaggerated. Guadalcanal Island was unimportant except for its airfield and as a springboard for future operations.

last Japanese resistance on the island, he said, was overcome yesterday. About a week earlier, seeing that the situation was hopeless, the Japanese evacuated an unknown number of high-ranking officers by destroyers and submarines.

“They left the junior officers and men to take the rap,” said Captain Browning. “There is nothing startling about that. It is a commentary on their phychology. There is no indication of a mass removal of troops.” Admiral Halsey has sent his congratulations to Major-General Alexander Patch, commander of the American Army on Guadalcanal. “Having sent Major-General Patch to do a tailoring job on Guadalcanal, I am surprised and pleased at the speed with which he has removed the enemy’s pants to accomplish it,” said Admiral Halsey. JAPANESE DESTROYERS SUNK BY AMERICAN AIRCRAFT. FIERCE AND SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS. NEW YORK, February 10. American planes have sunk at least two Japanese destroyers and possibly five others in cat-and-mouse battles round Guadalcanal, according to a United Press of America dispatch on February 5 from the United States fleet in the South Pacific. Air striking groups met 20 Japanese destroyers which started for Guadalcanal from the Buin area, sinking one destroyer and leaving three others burning fiercely, thus ending the first threat. Then long-range bombers caught a second group of destroyers starting south on February 2, sinking one and scoring hits on three more, two of which were damaged severely. TOKIO REPORT ENEMY ADMISSION & CLAIM. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, February 11. The Japanese have admitted the sinking of three destroyers by recent American bombing attacks off Guadalcanal. These losses are stated to have occurred between February 1 and 7. The Tokio radio alleges that two American cruisers and one destroyer were sunk in the same period. Washington has declined to comment. AMERICAN PATROLS MOPPING UP JAPANESE REMNANTS. LONDON, February 11. On Guadalcanal American patrols are still mopping up isolated Japanese groups. All organised resistance came to an end when the main enemy forces were withdrawn. A Washington communique, giving this information, also reports air operations in the Pacific. American bombers made two more raids on the enemy positions on Munda, in New Georgia. In the north Pacific other aircraft bombed the Japanese base at Kiska.