ENEMY WARSHIPS IN SOLOMONS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23998, 13 July 1943, Page 5

ENEMY WARSHIPS IN SOLOMONS

Force Returning North AMERICANS CLOSE IN ON MUNDA (Special Australian Cortesp., N.Z.P.A.) (Reo. 11 p,m.) SYDNEY, July 12. The Japanese force of light cruisers and destroyers, reported on Sunday lo be approaching New Georgia in the central Solomons, has turned and fled north. The warships were test reported 15 miles north of Kolqmbangara Island, making in the direction of the Buin-Faisi area, the Japanese naval concentration point in the northern Solomons. No fresh aerial attacks against the ships have been reported,, but observers consider it unlikely that thfe enemy force was able to Teach New Georgia to land reinforcements or supplies for the beleaguered garrison of Munda airfield. The American forces are preparing to launch a strong attack against the Japanese : positions guarding Munda. Big numbers of assault troops have reached jumping-off positions flanking Munda, the first important strategic prize of the Pacific offensive. Tokyo radio has admitted that for sortie days United States patrols have been operating within two miles of Munda. Allied artillery has been transported from Rendova Island to positions flanking the Munda defences. It will Undoubtedly play an important part in the attack against the airfield. The Japanese naval task force, comprising an undisclosed number of light cruisers and destroyers, was last reported in the Kula gulf, east of Kolombangara Island, near the scene of the defeat of the last Japanese naval force sent to the area. Bad weather screened this enemy force in its dash from the northern Solomons towards the eastern entrance of the Kula gulf. The Japanese warships were first sighted early on Saturday morning by a Catalina flying-boat south of Choiseul Bay, about 40 miles north of New Georgia. Our attacks failed. Later, Liberator heavy bombers picked up the force 10 miles north of Munda, scoring two direct hits. ,No subsequent attack has been reported. Road Block Established General MacArthur’s latest communique makes no reference to the land situation at Munda, where the threat to the Japanese garrison has been increased by the establishment of a road block between the Munda airfield and Bairoko Harbour to the north. This completes the isolation of Munda. At the same time the American forces which landed at Rice anchorage, east of Bairoko, and at Zanana, are closing in against the airfield’s defences. The Allied air force is keeping up its battering of the area. On Sunday strong formations of Avengers and Dauntless dive-bombers dropped 52 tons of high explosives on anti-aircraft positions and bivouac areas on Bibelo Hill, 300 yards from the Munda airstrip, Our aeroplanes are also maintaining pressure against the northern Solomons, from which area the Japanese might be able to launch air counter-attacks. Liberators on Sunday dropped 40 tons of bombs on Kahili aerodrome., Referring to operations in the Solomons area, General MacArthur’s communique to-day says: BOugairtville Island-Buin-FaisL—Our heavy bombers attacked Kahili aerodrome after dark with 40 tons of explosives. Several fires were observed. Three enemy night fighters intercepted without effect. New Georgia (Munda) .—Torpedo and dive-bombers attacked .enemy antiaircraft positions and bivouac areas on Bibelo Hill with 52 tons of heavy bombs. The results were not observed. Kolombangara Island.—One of our medium units in the course of a night patrol bombed the aerodrome at Vua.