Late News VAST ARMADA IN ATTACK

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 270, 13 August 1942, Page 6

Late News VAST ARMADA IN ATTACK

Solomons Battle U.S. ARMY NOW REPRESENTED Too Soon To Rejoice (Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright.) ’(Special Australian Correspondent.) • (Received August 13, 1.33 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 12. Fifty Allied warships and 100 transports carrying troops and equipment are believed to be engaged in the battle for the Solomons. The official reports are expected to reveal that the attacking fleet is the largest yet employed by either side in the Pacific war, and fairly heavy losses are expected. The latest Washington messages published here indicate that the Allied land forces have gained some success in the face of strong Japanese counter-at-tacks. United States marines, now supported by United States Army troops, have been engaged in desperate hand-to-hand fighting on the beaches and in the jungle hinterland of the south-east Solomons. The enemy airfields on Tulagi and Guadalcanal are believed to be the primary objectives, and with these airfields in our possession Allied landbased aircraft would make it costly for the Japanese to attempt to bring up reinforcements. Reports from Hawaii state that the Japanese are fighting fiercely to retain their positions, realizing what a heavy blow the loss of these islands would be to their Pacific strategy. Australian newspaper correspondents in the United States say that this, the first seaborne offensive in America’s history, has sent a wave of confidence through the country. There is an optmistic note in all newspapers. Though the public is reconciled to heavy losses, it is keenly gratified to know that the Allies have at last gone after the Japanese and are hitting hard. The , Solomons battle is known .to have been discussed at today’s meeting of the Australian War Cabinet. The iatest dispatches are said to be “encouraging, but give no cause for premature rejoicing.’’ Australia is prepared for losses among her naval units engaged. No Australian troops are taking part in the operations. Allied aircraft of the South-west Pacific Command are maintaining their attacks on enemy shipping and reinforcement bases. “Limited Offensive.’’ American war correspondents in Australia in messages to their papers continue tb, be cautiously guarded in assessments of the value of the present operations. “Though the offensive continues over a 1000-mile area, it cannot be considered as approaching a ‘second front’ conception,” says Mr. Lewis Sebring, of the “New York Her-ald-Tribune.” “A ‘limited offensive’ is the more accurate description.”

Mr. Bryon Darnton, of the “New York Times,” draws attention to the restricted supplies reaching Australia. “Some may have thought the news of the offensive contradicted the news of the Australian equipment position,” he says. “However, the Solomons offensive is being run by Vice-Admiral Ghormley, and not by General MacArthur. The announcements setting forth the equipment position of General MacArthur’s area were factual.”