VALUABLE BASE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 106, 6 May 1943, Page 5

VALUABLE BASE

RUSSELL ISLANDS May Precede More Important Pacific Operations N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 11.30 WASHINGTON, May 5. The United States occupation of Russell Islands, 30 miles north of Guadalcanal-, may be preceding much more important operations, according to the American Associated Press correspondent in Washington. Authorities in the capital emphasise that the Russell Islands could serve either as an offensive or defensive base, but their geographical relationship to the big American base on Guadalcanar suggests that their occupation has primarily a defensive purpose. By their use, raids on the main American positions can be greatly minimised, thus strengthening the main positions for future operations against the principal Japanese bases in the Bougainville area. RearAdmiral Richmond Kelly, who led the landing expedition, says the Russell Islands will provide valuable advance bases for fighter planes. They reduce by a third the distance between Guadalcanar and New Georgia, where the Japanese have strong air bases at Munda and Kolombangara. During the Guadalcanar fighting, the Japanese used the Russell Islands as a shuttle base for their troops. Enemy ships carrying reinforcements' ana supplies stopped there and divided their cargoes among small boats which slipped across to Guadalcanar under cover of darkness. _ . , Observers state that the united States occupation of these islands in February was a precise manoeuvre, carried out by well-trained amphibious units. The movement was coordinated with General Mac Arthur's Command, which provided bombers for diversionary attacks on the enemy's Solomons bases. Before the American troops landed, native scouts under British officers went ahead to reconnoitre.

"United States forces are now established on Russell Island, north-west of Guadalcanal-," stated a United States Navy Department communique published in last night's Star. "The islands were occupied without opposition in February, some time after enemy resistance ceased on Guadalcanal - ."