AIRFIELD SAID TO BE TAKEN

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23717, 15 August 1942, Page 5

AIRFIELD SAID TO BE TAKEN

(Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received August Id, 12.15 a.in.)

(N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, August 14. ’ Latest reports indicate (hat the Solomon Islands positio® has improved in the last 24 hours.

A United States Navy Department communique states: “Operations are continuing in the Solomon Islands. There is nothing to report from other areas.” The fact that no other information concerning the fighting is forthcoming is regarded as an indication that the battle, now in its seventh day, is of considerable proportions, says an agency message from Washington. It is confirmed that strong American forces have landed on a fourth island—Malaita—in addition to Tulagi, Guadalcanar, and Florida. Some reports say American marines, heavily reinforced, are breaking down the Japanese hold on Tulagi. It ; —~ is stated that the Japanese had developed Tulagi’s defences to a greater extent than was expected. They were evidently determined to make it an important naval base. At least one airfield at Guadalcanar is said to have fallen into Allied hands. The United States Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Frank Knox) to-day had a conference with President Roosevelt. Asked afterwards what he thought of developments in the Solomon Islands, Colonel Knox declared “Very good.”

American observers believe that Japan may be forced to bring her main fleet into action in an effort to save her positions in the Solomon Islands. The Allies continue to hold sea and air superiority. It is accepted in Federal Government circles in Australia that there are good grounds for believing that the initial step in the Allies’ long-range plans for an offensive against Japanese-occupied territory is succeeding. The land fighting is reported to be particularly .bitter on Guadalcanal where the enemy has several airfields under construction. The island also has excellent anchorages along its coastline. With Tulagi, Guadalcanar is regarded as the chief prize in the Solomon Islands. Japanese forces are reported to be strongly entrenched in prepared positions in high ground on the centre of Tulagi, and to be fighting stubbornly. A third postponement of the promised announcement by Tokyo radio of details of the battle may indicate that the fighting is not developing to the liking of the Japanese command. The Naval Position American opinion is that the action will require additional strength for the Allied sea forces already engaged. Observers state that vessels must be deployed throughout the outer area of the battle zone to guard against an enemy surprise move, and to prevent Japanese reinforcements reaching the islands. Possession of airfields on Guadalcanar will be of the highest importance to the Allies. Among war correspondents in Australia the opinion grows that the Allied offensive against the Solomon Islands narrowly forestalled further aggressive moves by the Japanese. They point to the substantial enemy shiplping concentrations in the Rabaul and Banda Sea areas, which haye suffered heavily from Allied bombing attacks. Further attacks on enemy warships and transports in the New Guinea area are reported in to-day’s South-west

Pacific headquarters communique. These attacks are known to have been made at sea, but no indication has yet been given of the likely destination o£ the Japanese convoy. In counter-opera-tions the Japanese are reported to be using Zero fighters fitted with floats. These can readily be operated among the islands, where good ■ landing grounds are scarce, but sheltered sea bases are plentiful. Prominence is given in Australia to an article by the Washington columnist, Mr Drew Pearson, who says: “The Allied offensive in the Solomon Islands is a race against time to prevent the Japanese fortifying them at breakneck speed. The Japanese have been building aeroplane runways, fuel depots, and anti-aircraft gun emplacements. The Navy had to move before the Japanese got too deeply entrenched. Soma strategists figure that if the Japanese are given », year to fortify the South Pacific islands it will take from three to four years to dislodge them.” American military strategists believe that if the Solomon Islands offensive takes its expected course it will lead to gigantic Allied landing operations in the next six months. Mr Hanson Baldwin, the “New York Times” military commentator, says: “United .States marines and other United States and Australian forces are undertaking the first small step in what will probably be the most difficult operation in the history of amphibious warfare. This is a step by step and island by island advance across.the Pacific. li is a backbreaking task, and cannot be accomplished quickly against the Japanese.” Mr Gilbert Cant, the “New York Post” foreign news editor, says; “The Solomon Islands landing suggests not only that the Japanese navy is spread dangerously thin, but that the Allies are in a position to take full advantage of the enemy’s difficulties.” Several commentators emphasise the importance of land-based aircraft in Pacific warfare, and declare that Allied advances in an area where the Japanese possess this great advantage must prove very costly.

SIGNIFICANCE OF BATTLE TO N.Z.

INVASION OF ITALY

VIEWS OF HON J. G. BARCLAY

MALTA MAY BE USED AS BASE

WASHINGTON. August 13. Air Vice-Marshal Lloyd, who wa* Air Officer Commanding Royal Air Force, Mediterranean, told newspaper* men that Malta would be the jumping off place for the coming invasion of Italy. “Malta was the key to British successes in Libya last year when aeroplanes from Malta smashed the German supply lines,” he said, “Later, Rommel succeeded in flying in a hell of a lot of stuff from Crete. Rommel is now just sitting for lack of supplies.” • Asked how long Malta would be tenable -if Rommel won Egypt, Air Marshal Lloyd replied: “As long at supplies get in.” Asked if Malta could be used as a jumping-off place for an invasion of Italy, he replied: “Oh, yes. It will be for the coming invasion.”

CO-OPERATION WITH AUSTRALIA (Received August 15, 1.30 a.m.) (N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, August 14. “If we can drive the Japanese back from the Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand can breathe more easily. I cannot comment on the battle—l am not a member of the War Cabinet —but the implications are obvious,” said the Hon. J. G. Barclay, the New Zealand Minister of Marketing, to journalists in Sydney to-day, shortly before leaving to inspect Australian munitions factories. Japanese bases in the Solomons, Mr Barclay added, were a constant menace toFiji, New Zealand, and to Australia's supply line with the United Stales. “I believe that the threat of invasion has been more fully realised by the people of New Zealand than by those 1 have met in Australia. “Our preparations are well forward to meet any emergency,” said Mr Barclay. The general opinion in New Zealand was that Australia was in more imminent danger of invasion than New Zealand. If either country were invaded there would be complete co-operation between their armed forces. "One of the happy consequences of the war has been the vital link forged between the Dominions,” said the Minister. “Before the war there was a good deal of trade rivalry. That has all gone by the board. “To-day New Zealand is only too willing to lend whatever aid it can to Australia, just as we know that Australia is prepared to help New Zealand in every possible way. If Australia should be invaded there will be the fullest co-operation from New Zealand, both to assist your fighting forces and help to feed your people.” Mr Barclay gave some details of New Zealand's war effort, and said that though taxation was heavy the Dominion had been able to maintain or even extend its social services.

AMERICAN FACTORY STRIKE SUGGESTED USE OF TROOPS WASHINGTON, August 13. The chairman of the War Labour Board (Mr W. H, Davis) said that unless there was an early settlement of the strike at the General Cable Corporation plant at Bayonne, New Jersey. the next step would be to install Federal troops to restore production. A report from Bayonne says that amid shouts of “Let the Government take over,” strikers at the General Cable Corporation’s works voted to continue the strike when told of the ultimatum issued by Mr Davis. The strike was called without union sanction, because of the War Labour Board's adverse decision on wage increases.

and mainly precipitous, Guadalcanar is almost oblong, running 80 miles from west to east and 25 miles from north to south. From the south coast rise rugged, razor-back mountains, the summits almost perpetually clouded and reaching 8000 ft in the east. In the west and north, however, there are extensive undulating tracts and grassy plains. The earliest European settlement and development took place on Guadalcanar, Grazing has readied as high as 7000 head of cattle and there are 10,000 acres of coconuts, rubber, ivory nuts, ground nuts, cotton, and kapoc.

N.Z. AIRMAN WITH U.S. SQUADRON LONDON, August 13. One of the few New Zealand arm-ourer-fitters post®'’ to an American fighter squadron is Corporal Clifford Crawfqrd. of Gore. He spent 18 months in England with Spitfire squadrons until last month, when ho was sent to an American squadron on a station which a New Zealand Spitfire squadron had recently left. Corporal Crawford instructs the Americans on servicing Spitfires. “They are grand chaps, and pick up things quickly,” he said. “I have to give lectures and demonstrations. They are keen for new ideas, and I have never seen better tool kits than theirs. They work flat out when on the job. They want me to remain with them, and X hope 1 will be allowed to.