EVE OF STRONG U.S, ATTACK ON MUNDA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 163, 12 July 1943, Page 3

EVE OF STRONG U.S, ATTACK ON MUNDA

AIRFIELD OBJECTIVE Assault Troops Reported At Battle Stations N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 12.30 p.m. SYDNEY, this day. American forces are about to launch a strong attack, against the Japanese positions guarding Munda airfield, New Georgia. Big numbers of assault troops have reached jump-ing-off positions on the flanks of this important stragetic prize of the Allied Pacific offensive. Tokyo radio has admitted that for some days United States patrols have been operating within two miles of Munda airfield. It is believed the mission of the Japanese naval task force now in the Solomons Sea, which was reported in General MacArthur's communique of Sunday, is to relieve the increasing pressure on Munda. Comprising an undisclosed number of light cruisers and destroyers, the force was last reported in Kula Gulf, east of Kolambangara. Kula Gulf was the scene of the destruction of the first enemy naval force sent to relieve Munda. In the battle there last Monday, nine and possiblv 11 Japanese cruisers and destroyers were sunk or destroyed by fire. Bad weather has screened the second enemy task force in its dash from the Northern Solomons towards the eastern entrance of Kula Gulf. Japanese warships were first sighted early on Saturday morning by single Catalina flying-boats south of Choiseul Bay, about 40 miles north of New Georgia. Our attacks failed. Later Liberator heavy bombers picked up the enemy force just 10 miles north of Munda, scoring two direct hits. No subsequent attacks have been reported, but Allied aircraft are searching Kula Gulf between New Georgia and Kolambangara Island for enemy ships. Meanwhile, Allied artillery has been transported from Rendova Island to positions flanking Munda's defences and will undoubtedly fill an important role in the final attack against the airfield.