"SHAPING UP"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 35, 11 February 1943, Page 5

"SHAPING UP"

OPPOSING FLEETS Important Allied Moves In Pacific Rec. 10.30. WASHINGTON, Feb. 10. An American Navy Department official to-day spoke of the opposing fleets and air forces "continuing to shape up in the South Pacific,but no further inkling has been given of moves in that area..

A Pearl Harbour message states that the United Press correspondent reports that well-informed authorities indicate that after the defeat of the Japanese on Guadalcanal- most important Allied operations are to be expected in the South-west and South Pacific, requiring every available ship, man, plane and gun. The correspondent adds that two factors hint at the character of these operations, firstly, that Guadalcanar and Buna (Papua) are potential springboards for an Allied move against Rabaul, in New Britain, and, secondly, that the Japanese are reported to be now concentrating forces The Allied Air Force in the Southwest Pacific area has struck heavily at another Japanese base north of Australia. This time the objective was Koepang, an important enemy strong point in the south-eastern Celebes. Great destruction was caused among buildings, installations and dispersed aircraft. A large force of Australian-based Liberators made Tuesday's raid in bad weather, which hampered observation of results. An 8000-ton vessel in Kendari Harbour was among the targets. On their way north our Liberators were intercepted by a flight of Zeros, which broke off the engagement after one fighter had been shot down. Kendari is the chief Japanese aviation supply base in the Netherlands East Indies. It has not recently been greatly used by the Japanese as an operational base. This attack followed Monday's devastating attack on Dobo, in the Aru Islands.