THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23741, 12 September 1942, Page 5

THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

JAPANESE AIR ATTACKS * SERIES OF LANDINGS BY SMALL FORCES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 12.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 10. “Japanese air raids are almost daily and nightly affairs in the Solomon Islands as the Japanese continue to dispute control of the air with the United States Navy and Army airmen operating from Guadalcanal” states Mr Tillman Durdin, of the “New York Times-,” in a dispatch from the Solomon Islands. “Often the aerodrome is the target for bombing. Sometimes the Japanese go for ships in the harbour. “Allied domination of this vital is-i land is also being disputed by a series of landings by small forces. The Japanese are building up a counter-at-tacking force, and more fighting is in prospect before the United States marines completely secure their foothold here. “As I stepped ashore I saw hundreds of Japanse prisoners being marched aboard a transport. They are being taken to prison camps outside the theatre of hostilities. This is the biggest group of Japanese prisoners yet taken in the Pacific war. Some of the Japanese were cheerful, and flashed gold teeth in smiles as they passed. Others were dejected, and looked very humble and hardly like the conquering sons of the Rising Sun. I was told that many prisoners asked every day when they were going to be killed.”

FRESH PACIFIC FORCES

LARGE JAPANESE CONVOY (Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 10, A Chungking spokesman disclosed that a large number of Japanese transports bearing mechanised troops which last week were heading for Singapore, are now heading to the south Pacific Islands to reinforce the garrisons in anticipation of a further Allied offensive. The spokesman added that the Japanese must have miscalculated their strategy against Australia. He explained that three months ago the Japanese planned a full-scale attack on Australia, not because they wanted Australia, but in order to eliminate her territory as a potential base for counter-altacK. At the last moment the Japanese changed their plans and decided that it was sufficient to occupy strategic islands such ps the Solomons and the Bismarck Archipelago from which they could intercept Allied attempts to send strong forces to Australia. Nevertheless supplies continued to go to Australia, and moreover, the Solomons offensive thwarted the Japanese concept of forcing the Allies to divert more forces to the south Pacific.

ATTACK AGAINST KINHWA

CHINESE CLOSER TO CITY LONDON, September 10. The Chinese forces attacking Kinhwa, the capital of Chekiang Province, are now reported to have reached the outskirts of the city. The Japanese are holding defensive positions with fresh reinforcements and supplies from Hangchow. The Chinese, after taking Tungyang, 40 miles to the north-east, are attacking Kinhwa from three sides, from Lishui, Tungyang and Luhgyu. The ‘‘News Chronicle” states: “These Chinese successes immediately raise the question of Kiangsi and Chekiang as bases for an offensive against the Japanese ort land inside China, and by air against Japan itself and against the highly important advance post of Formosa.” The paper adds; “Until the Burma Road is reopened and until adequate supplies of war material flow from India to China, the Chinese springboard cannot be fully used, which necessitates the recapture of Burma. There is a growing feeling that the Chinese successes have not received the attention they deserve, particularly as they may prove the turning point of the war in the Far East." The “China Central News” reports that two Japanese transports steaming south and carrying 2000 troops and supplies were torpedoed and sunk by an Allied submarine off the coast of Fukien on August 27. The Minister of Agriculture (Admiral Shen Hang Lieh) has reported that Free China should have no food problem following a bumper harvest. At the invitation. of Marshal Chiang Kai-shek a Parliamentary mission composed of Lord Ailwyn and Lord Teviot, representing the House of Lords, and Mr H. T. S, Wedderburn (Conservative) and Mr J. J. Lawson (Labour) representing the House of Commons, is to visit Chungking. This was announced in the House of Commons.

R.A.F. ATTACK IN BURMA

(8.0. W.) RUGBY. September 10. Royal Air Force bombers made a successful attack on an enemy supply ship and its escort at Akyab, according to a New Delhi announcement. The attack was pressed home in spite of strong fighter opposition and anti-air-craft fire. Several direct hits were scored on ships at the jetty and also among the goods being unloaded. Four bombers failed to return.

AFFRAY WITH POLICE

SHOTS FIRED IN BELFAST (Rec. 12.15 a.m.) LONDON, Sept, 11, More than 100 shots were fired when police raided a house in Belfast last evening. Two men in the bouse fired on the police. While some of the police drew the gunmen’s fire at the rear, others broke in in front. They arrested the men and found six revolvers and a quantity of literature. AU street traffic was stopped during the firing. No one was injured.

MEN FROM GRAF SPEE IMPRISONED

ACTION BY ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT NEW YORK, September 10. Declaring that the Nazis have not responded in a proper manner to the humanitarian treatment they have received, the Argentine Government has ordered the remainder of the crew of the Admiral Graf Spee to be placed in a concentration caipp, reports the Buenos Aires correspondent of tfie New York “Herald-Tribune.” The correspondent adds that at least 130 of the Admiral Graf Spec’s officers and men are known to have escaped. Many are now serving in the German Navy, and some are believed to be members of the crews of new submarines operating in the South Atlantic. . Industrial Disturbances.—The Canadian Labour Department has reported 73 strikes and lock-outs, with the loss of 54,402 man working days in July, compared with 54 strikes, losing 41,233 man days in