CLASH EXPECTED IN SOLOMONS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24052, 14 September 1943, Page 3

CLASH EXPECTED IN SOLOMONS

PREPARATIONS NORTH OF NEW GEORGIA

(Rec. 11.30 pjn.) SYDNEY, Sept. 13. Winston Turner, Australian war correspondent with the South Pacific Fleet, says that Vella Lavella, the most northerly island of the New Georgia group, “is likely to develop into a hotspot at any time.” Explaining the position, he says: “We have established bridgeheads in the south, but the Japanese still hold the northern part of the island. Ground fighting on a fairly large scale may flare up any day. “Following their policy of making our progress towards Babaul as costly as possible, the Japanese are trying to reinforce Vella Lavella. Our night patrol bombers spotted three enemy supply ships putting in on Friday. A bomb hit one ship squarely, silenced most of her anti-aircraft guns, and caused a heavy internal explosion. “Planes and motor torpedo-boats are still chopping up enemy barges. Our patrol units on Saturday attacked 12 barges around the Vella and Kolombangara coasts. They destroyed nine and damaged the others. “OS Buka Island, north of Bougainville Island, our night reconnaissance planes bombed three small enemy cargo ships, causing explosions and fires.

“Life is being made miserable for the big enemy garrison blockaded on Kolombangara Island. They are bpmbed daily._ Escorted medium and dive-bombers in two attacks on Saturday bombed and strafed barge hideouts and bivouac areas.

“Except for occasional ugly clashes between small craft at sea and the routine air raids, the Solomons area is quietlysimmering while the Allies stoke up for, their next big show,”