SHELLING OF MUNDA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1943, Page 3

SHELLING OF MUNDA

STARTED TWO HOURS AFTER LANDING ON RENDOVA

BARGE BASE CAPTURED AT VIRU.

GENERAL MACARTHUR'S COMMUNIQUE.

(Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) SYDNEY, July 2. Naval units pushing into • the northern Solomons, have shelled Japanese bases there. This is revealed in General MacArthur’s latest communique, which says that two hours after the occupation of Viru harbour (about 40 miles down the coast from Munda) American shore batteries opened fire on Munda airfield. Rendova

fell in eight hours. American reinforcements and supplies have been put ashore at Viru harbour under cover of naval guns and aircraft, and the Japanese have rallied their forces for the defence of Munda. It is estimated that 300 planes have contested the bitter air battles.

Detailing these and other developments in this area, the communique says: “Rendova: The United States forces landed at dawn on Wednesday, and successfully completed the operation shortly after midday, destroying the enemy garrison. Air and naval forces supported the landing operations. The enemy bases at Vila (on Kolombangara Island) and Munda were shelled by supporting surface craft and heav ily attacked by medium bombers and dive-bombers. Other surface units bombarded enemy installations in the Ballale-Faisi area (northern Solomons). Our shore batteries opened fire on Munda two hours after the debarkation. The enemy counter-attacked throughout the day with medium bombers, dive-bombers, torpedo planes, and fighters.

“New Georgia Island: Uhited States ground forces captured the enemy barge base at Viru harbour after hard fighting.” Fast patrol torpedo-boats were part of the naval force which covered the American landings on the Trobriand Group and Woodlark Island. FIRM FOOTING GAINED BY AMERICANS IN NEW GEORGIA. SEVEN UNITED STATES PILOTS _ RESCUED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, July 2. There is no recent news of the fighting in New Georgia and the operations in the region of Viru Harbour, 'but the American forces are said to be well established in the whole of the New Georgia group. An American Navy Department communique states: —“In the South Pacific, early yesterday afternoon, dive-bombers attacked jap anese defensive positions at Lambeti

Plantation, near Munda, New Georgia. Fires were started. On the same afternoon a formation of torpedo-bombers and dive-bombers attacked Japanese defensive positions in the camp section of Vila, on Kolombangara Island. “Seven pilots from the 17 American planes previously reported missing have been rescued.” I Lnmbeti Plantation is several miles east of the airfield at Munda.