Japanese Barge Convoy Smashed

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 197, 20 August 1943, Page 3

Japanese Barge Convoy Smashed

ACi lON IN WELLA GULF Nearly 2000 Perish In Attempted Landing (N.Z.P.A.—Special Correspondent.—Rec. noon.)' SYDNEY, this day. Nearly 2000 Japanese, while attempting to make a landing on Vella Lavella Island, in the Central Solomons, perished or were taken prisoner when United States naval units on Tuesday night destroyed the greater part of an enemy barge convoy in Vella Gulf. Not more than 300 Japanese reached the island. Thirty large barges transported the enemy troops and the convoy had an escort of four destroyers. When American warships intercepted this force the enemy destroyers fled for home. Three of them were hit and one probably sunk in a halfhour engagement, which was fought in bright moonlight. This naval clash was reported in General Mac Arthur's communique yesterday, and details of the destruction of the Japanese landing force were released by Admiral Halsey's Headquarters. After the enemy destroyers had been routed American war r ships turned their attentions to the troop-laden barges and destroyed most of them. The surprise occupation by United States units of Vella Lavella on Sunday last has placed the Allied forces across the Japanese supply line to some 8000 troops, mainly employed as garrisons at Bairoko Harbour, in New Georgia, and at Vila, Kolombangara Island. These garrisons may now be blockaded and trapped. Early Attempts at Counter-Invasion Prophesied War correspondents in the Solomons have prophesied early enemy attempts at a counter-invasion. Vella Lavella is one of the least known of the Solomons Islands. It is volcanic and contains many sulphur deposits which have never been exploited. The island lies 45 miles north-west of New Georgia and between the enemy-held bases on Kolombangara and Bougainville Islands. Before the war there were ten white people, two Chinese and 200 natives on Vella L,avella Island.

In less than seven weeks in the Central Solomons the Japanese have lost 1 7 d'estroyers v four cruisers, about 80 barges and a 9000-ton seaplane tender. In addition six destroyers have probably been sunk and eight damaged. In the same period reported naval losses by the Allies have been one cruiser and two destroyers. United States forces seized Vella Lavella Island on Sunday, capturing about 350 Japanese soldiers and sailors. No resistance was reported. After the landing enemy aircraft made repeated efforts to attack the Americans. The island, which is 25 miles long and 15 miles wide, is densely wooded, with a steep razor-back mountain ridge up to 3000 ft running almost its whole length. Low plateaus in the northern half, however, are regarded as ideal for the construction of airfields and landing strips. The Japanese do not appear to have developed any airfields. Rear-Admiral Wilkinson, commanding the South Pacific amphibian force, said the island would probably be developed into an effective base and spearhead. Admiral Wilkinson said the Japanese would be compelled to consider seriously the great cost of counter-moves against Vella Lavella. He added that the Allies would take care of any landing the enemy might try. The objective in taking the island was to tighten the blockade against Bairoko, on New Georgia, and Vila, on Kolombangara Island.