TOKIO PREDICTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1943, Page 3

TOKIO PREDICTION

GREAT NAVAL ENGAGEMENT LIKELY TO BE FOUGHT SOON IN SOLOMONS. AMERICANS MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS MUNDA. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 14. The American pincer movement against Munda, in New Georgia, .is closing. The southern arm of the pincers, which is hinged on the base at Zanana beach, has penetrated two enemy strong-points and reached Munda’s outer defence perimeter; the northern arm is also making progress after having destroyed the enemy garrison at Enogai Inlet. General MacArthur's communique says: “The advance of our ground forces against Munda is continuing in spite of stiffening enemy resistance. Our torpedo and dive-bombers in direct support attacked anti-aircraft positions and bivouac areas with 32 tons of heavy explosives. Large fires resulted. Shortly after dawn our fighters intercepted 18 enemy dive-bombers and 10 Zeros over Langedale Point, forcing the bombers to jettison their bombs and shooting down four Zeros for the loss of one plane. “In the battle at Enogai Inlet, our forces captured equipment including heavy artillery and machine-guns. The enemy casualties included 150 known to be dead and as many wounded.” A Domei (Japanese news agency) report says that terrific air battles are raging in the Solomons, and that these are a prelude to a great naval engagement for which both the Japanese anti American fleets are now preparing. General MacArthur’s communique confirms the Japanese naval losses in the second battle of Kula Gulf as one light cruiser and three destroyers sunk and two other destroyers probably sunk. The remnants of the enemy xorce which returned north after the battle were joined it is believed, by other warships which did not take part in the fight. Official reports confirm that the mission of the Japanese task force was to reinforce the beleaguered garrison at Munda. AIR & SEA OPERATIONS. General MacArthur's communique today also reports:— “Bougainville, Buin-Faisi.— Our heavy units bombed Ballale aerodrome after dark, dropping, 24 tons of high explosives and numer-’ ous fragmentation clusters. Five fires were started. “Rendova—Late dispatches indicate that four additional enemy fighters and another medium bomber were shot down by fighter action on Sunday. Enemy aircraft dropped nine bombs oh our positions after dark without damage on casualties. “Kolombangara, Vila. —Our heavy

units bombed the aerodrome after dark, with unobserved results. “Vangunu Island. —Our surafee craft and shore parties on the north-east coast destroyed three enemy barges containing 150 troops. - ’ “If the Japanese are going to Ii.SC ‘The Slot’ to try and save New Georgia we may look forward to another rich harvest of scrap metal,” writes an Australian war correspondent in the Solomons. “The Slot,” which is the graveyard of many Japanese ships, is a narrow stretch of water running between the Solomon Islands from San Cristoval to Bougainville. It was the route followed by the “Tokio Express” when sneaking reinforcements into Guadalcanal by night. Here American motor torpedo-boats and destroyers gained their best bags. Continuance of enemy ship movements through the Slot must assist the Allies considerably in their purpose of whittling down Japanese strength.