N.Z. TROOPS IN ACTION

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24092, 30 October 1943, Page 5

N.Z. TROOPS IN ACTION

Landing on Mono . Island MINOR JAPANESE OPPOSITION (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Oct, 29. New Zealand and United States troops who landed on Mono Island in the northern Solomons on Tuesday and Wednesday met only minor opposition from the Japanese garrison. Casualties were light. A naval task force shelled the enemy positions in support of the landing. \Moiio Island is in the Treasury group about 30 miles south-west of Bougainville, the last remaining Japanese stronghold between the Allied forces in the Solomons and the enemy’s key base of RabauL The landing is regarded as the first phase of a general movement into the northern Solomons from New Georgia and Vella Lavella. The special Australian correspondent of the New Zealand Press Association in a message from Sydney says that few details of the landing have been

announced, but it is- stated officially that some minor opposition was encountered. This included'mortar and machine-gun fire. •• Mono is the largest of the five islands comprising the Treasury group. It is a blunt, cone -1000 ft high and six miles in diameter. So far as-is known it has no airfield and up to now has never been regarded as strategically important. Little is .known of the anchorages which the island may afford. The occupation oi Mono brings'the Allies within 28 miles of the important Japanese bases in the Buin-Faisr area. The elimination of this enemy • defensive ?one would mean the virtual, mil of Bougainville 1 and would- open t|ie road to Rabaul from the east. . The strength of the Japanese force on Mono has not been officially indicated, but an Australian, war correspondent in thi Solomons says the garrison >is believed not to be large, . It is presumed that fighting on the island continues. , The Tokyo radio yesterday; announced the Allied landing on Mono. The Japanese claimed that their aircraft attacked an Allied convey, sinking one warship - and damaging another.