MORE LANDINGS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 88, 24 January 1942, Page 5

MORE LANDINGS.

NEW GUINEA AND SOLOMONS.

GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION. LONDON, January 23. The Japanese have made fresh landings *in the New Guinea and Solomon Islands area*. 'This was announced in a joint Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force communique issued in Melbourne to-day. “During Today Japanese landings in the New Guinea and Solomon Islands areas have bejen reported,'' states the communique. “This morning there was active Japanese air reconnaissance over widely-dispersed points in these areas, but no damage is reported.” ( Earlier the Australian Minister for the Army (Mr F. M. Forde), who is acting-Prime Minister in the absence of Mr Curtin, had announced that it was reasonable to assume that Japanese forces had landed at Rabaul, in New Britain. Rabaul is 800 miles as the bomber flies from the nearest point on the Australian coast —Cape York peninsula. Mr Forde said it was clear that the Japanese object was to use Rabaul as a base for further operations against Australia. “We must realise the enormous gravity of the situation,” he added. “We must press on with the task of strengthening our defences, and face whatever may come with courage and resolution.” In a number of cases the aircraft which evacuated women and children from Rabaul carried record loads. One air-liner which normally carries 21 passengers and a crew of three, transjSorted 53 women and children in one flight. On one of the last flights the air-liner arrived at Rabaul an hour after the Japanese had -flown over. It was loaded quickly and left with a strong Australian Air Force escort. The Minister for Air (Mr A. S. Drakeford) disclosed that in a raid on Buloio in New Guinea, several aircraft were destroyed on the ground. Raids have also been made on islands in the Solomons group. Mr Forde disclosed to-night that three aircraft-carriers were included in the Japanese fleet, as well as smaller naval craft.