USING AIR BASES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 194, 18 August 1942, Page 5

USING AIR BASES

Air Reinforcements Arrive To

Carry Offensive North

(Special Australian Correspondent.)

(United Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. 1 p.m.)

SYDNEY, this day.

Japan s hold on all the islands in the south-east Solomons is believed to have been broken. The latest reports indicate that the Allies are now using the captured air bases in the islands. It is understood that no Australia-based bombers have taken part in the Solomons offensive since last Wednesday. This suggests that the Allies now control sufficient islands to provide close air support.

A Washington estimate says 5000 square miles, or more than a third of the total area of the Solomons is now under the control of Allied forces. The important Tulagi Harbour area is firmly held by American marines, while Allied entrenchments on the other islands grow stronger daily.

Despite the continued lack of official news, it is reported from the Hawaii headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet that there is an expectant air that the Solomons battle will soon end in victory.

A Washington report says the Allied air reinforcements arriving at the captured' bases in the Solomons are not purely for defensive purposes, to fight off Japanese counter-thrusts, but will also carry out an offensive northwards. Resistance js expected to continue on the larger islands in the south-east Solomons from enemy detachments which escaped into the jungles and mountains. May Be Forerunner Of Big Pacific Push Some American observers say the Solomons attack is merely the forerurjner of a tremendous Allied Pacific push. The Allies intend to fortify the Solomons strongly, turning them into a "Gibraltar of the South-west Pacific." It is pointed out that the Japanese still possess air bases in the northern Solomons, and they will be able to keep up raids on the Allied positions. The primary Allied task will be to win control of the remaining airfields. With all the airfields in the group under Allied control, the task of crushing the remaining resistance should be comparatively easy.

The American Associated Press Washington correspondent states the Solomons offensive is regarded in official quarters as opening a new period of inter-island fighting over the supply lines in the western Pacific. He adds: "This will involve not only more American assaults against enemy-held islands, hut probably a continuation of Japanese efforts to win a position from which American communications can be severely harassed. TTie Solomons offensive is likely to be extended island by island to other Japanese bases, including the Dutch East Indies. Here the enemy is strongly entrenched and could put up terrific resistance, but even such an advance would fall short of causing Japan mortal injury.

The advance, therefore, would have to go beyond the Indies and strike north into the Caroline and Marshall Islands. Once the main fortified island line runnirtg west and east—Palau, Truk, Ponape and Jaluit—was pierced Japan's vital defence could be said to be crumbling. A great victory over the Japanese Fleet, making it very difficult for the enemy to supply and reinforce these outposts, would have the same ultimate effect the disruption of Japanese supply lines."