MAJOR SUCCESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1943, Page 3

MAJOR SUCCESS

IN NEUTRALISING JAPANESE ISLAND BASES BETTER SCOPE FOR ALLIED OFFENSIVE. AIR ACTIVITY STILL HAMPERED BY WEATHER. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) SYDNEY, May 27. The relentless Allied bombing offensive against the Japanese air bases from New Guinea to the Solomons is having cumulative results. A report from "the South Pacific headquarters states that “harassing of the Japanese arfields in New Georgia has made them relatively valueless for offensive use.” The neutralisation of these bases which are situated at Munda and Villa, is regarded as a major success. Their location only 180 miles from the powerful American base of Guadalcanal made them always a potential menace.

Balle, in the Shortland group, northern Solomons, is now the nearest base from which Japanese aircraft can strike against Guadalcanal. War correspondents say that the neutralisation of the Japanese island air bases means that an Allied offensive can bypass the groups concerned, thus reducing amphibious operations to a minimum and avoiding the heavy casualties necessarily involved in island-to-island progress by infantry.

General MacArthur's communique today reports that adverse weather continues to hamper air operations in the South-West Pacific area.

Yesterday's biggest raid was made against Madang, on the north-east New Guinea mainland. Liberators dropped 20001 b. and anti-personnel bombs on the airfield and adjacent anti-aircraft positions. Some anti-aircraft fire was encountered and a lone enemy fighter made a weak attempt at interception. Beaufighters, which accompanied the Liberators, concentrated their attacks against Japanese troops which were observed taking cover in the area. Boston attack bombers operating in support of Australian land forces in the Mubo area, dropped' bombs on enemyinstallations on Observation Hill and also made 39 strafing passes. The only other Allied air activities reported in General MacArthur’ communique today were an attack by a single reconnaissance bomber on the Arawe area, New Britain, and a night raid by medium bombers on Langgoer aerodrome, in the Kai Islands, Arafura Sea. Explosions and fires were caused. GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN AUSTRALIAN NORTH-WEST DEFENCES. BUT BIG ADDITIONAL WORKS PLANNED. SYDNEY, May 27. “A very great improvement has been made in the defences of north-western Australia in the last 15 months, but the Government is not yet satisfied,” said the Commonwealth Army Minister. Mr Forde, after touring the Darwin area. “Large additional works will be undertaken to build up our striking power,” he stated.

Pointing out that the Japanese had constructed 60 new airstrips in their island perimeter from Timor to New Britain? and had concentrated 250.000 troops in this area, the Minister’ said that it was not safe for Australia to let up on her defensive preparations. Nevertheless, his interpretation of the Allied global strategy was that it envisaged not only a defensive holding policy in the southern Pacific but also offensive thrusts against the enemy at a favourable opportunity. Mr Forde expressed sympathy with a general demand from the troops stationed in this sector to be sent where they could get to grips witth the Japanese.