ALLIED OFFENSIVE IN PACIFIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1943, Page 3

ALLIED OFFENSIVE IN PACIFIC

Munda Being Shelled Heavily from Rendova AMERICAN HEAVY BOMBERS SMOTHERING RABAUL AIRFIELDS CONCERTED ALLIED OPERATIONS IN NEW GUINEA LONDON, July 2. The Pacific offensive is going well for the Allies all along the front. , . . , . , , On the mainland of New Guinea, the Americans who landed at Nassau Bay are consolidating their positions just south of Salamaua. The Australians, who have been holding the ese at Mubo, have moved along the coast to join up with the The occupation of the Tobriand and Woodlark islands east of New Guinea has virtually been completed. In the Central Solomons, the Japanese have taken a terrmc knock in the air. American warships have penetrated northward to bombard Japanese bases. On land the Americans have overwhelmed the Japanese garrison on Rendova Island, except for small groups which are being mopped up. At the moment the whole weight of the Allied offensive is being hurled against Munda and the enemy airfield at Kolombangara. In air battles yesterday and on the preceding day, the Japanese lost 123 aircraft. Twenty-five United States machines are missing. Munda itself is being bombed from the air, and bombarded from batteries on Rendova and from Allied warships. The main Japanese base at Rabaul in New Britain is being blasted by American heavy bombers. They are applying smothering tactics to the airfields there.