INITIAL SUCCESS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 229, 8 July 1943, Page 3

INITIAL SUCCESS

PROGRESS OF INVASION WORK OF AMERICAN FIGHTERS. TOLL OF ENEMY BOMBERS. (N.Z. Press Association—OopyriglrL) (Rec. 12,50) NEW YORK, July 7. “The American invasion of the Japanese-occupied Solomons is progressing entirely satisfactorily,” the General commanding the United States forces on Rendova Island told war correspondents. He pointed out that an important success of the initial phase of the operations was the quick emplacement of heavy artillery batteries on the north shore of Rendova and the small islands in Renard Inlet. These batteries had been blasting Munda point and command the waters between Rendova and Munda. The general added that American fighter plane pilots have done most of the fighting so far. They had taken a particularly heavy toll of the Japanese bombers endeavouring to neutralise our artillery on Rendova.