BLOWS AT ENEMY BASES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23714, 12 August 1942, Page 3

BLOWS AT ENEMY BASES

Effect on .Solomons Battle SUPPLY POSITION OF JAPANESE (Special Australian Correspondent) (N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, August 11. Continued and devastating raids by Allied bombers on enemy aerodromes at Lae. Salamaua, and Rabaul have had a highly important effect on the general, operations in the Solomon Islands. This was stated to-day by a spokesman at General MacArthur’s headquarters. ‘‘No Australian ground troops are engaged in the great battle now reaching its fourth day," declared the spo’ esman. thus denying the previous cabled statements that Australian commando units were involved in the land fighting. The confirmation of Allied troop landings in the Solomon Islands has given some encouragement to optimism in Australia. Considerable significance is attached to Allied bombing raids on an enemy shipping concentration south of Timor, but no clear indication of the battle raging on the huge front is yet available at South-west Pacific headquarters. There are signs that the Allied forces are meeting with some success in face of extremely heavy Japanese ground and air opposition, states the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s observer. The main Allied attack is probably against Tulagi, but it is also likely that an [attack is being made on Guadalcanal where the Japanese have strong air forces. Ships that the Japanese were apparently hoping to move from Timor to the Solomon islands battle area have been heavily battered in three days of Allied air raids. After the last attack the whole convoy was seen returning to port. Direct hits were scored on at least two ships in the convoy, which were severely damaged. A destroyer was hit three times. The enemy may be running short of supplies badly needed in the new battle area, the observer states. In Allied raids on Rabaul scores of Japanese aircraft were blown up and put out of action, and petrol dumps were destroyed. Last night’s attack on Rabaul was not as heavy as earlier ones, but fires were caused which could be seen 50 miles away.