AIR OFFENSIVE IN SOLOMONS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 304, 18 September 1943, Page 7

AIR OFFENSIVE IN SOLOMONS

May Presage Further Landing DAY-LONG ATTACK (By Telegraph.—Press Assu. —Copyright.) (Received September 17, 10.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, September 17. Tiie air offensive against Bougainville Island, the most powerful Japanese base iu the Central Solomons, has assumed proportions suggesting that an Allied invasion is imminent, says the Sydney “Sun’s” South Pacific war correspondent Winston Turner. Bougainville airfields are strongly garrisoned—the estimates of enemy strength run as high as 40.000 men. The blitz is similar to that which preceded the invasion of New Georgia. Today’s communique from General MacArthur's headquarters state's that strong forces of heavy, torpedo and tintbombers, with fighter escort, carried out successful attacks on enemy aerodromes in the Buin area of Bougainville Island throughout Wednesday. The enemy base at Vila on Kolombangara Isiand at as bombed by medium units. , Recent intermittent harassing raids on Bougainville have developed into daily poundings of the big airfields by Admiral Halsey’s naval bombers, General Harmon’s 13th Army Air Force, aud the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Ihc Japanese are rushing in air reinforcements. but we are destroying the planes on fields as soon as they arrive, says the correspondent. The quality of Japanese airmen is deteriorating fast, and their fighter pilots are showing increasing reluctance to intercept. Dur planes are taking a heavy toll of enemy shipping attempting to reinforce the . forces on Bougainville.

NAVAL FIGHT REPORT

LONDON, .September 16. The Japanese report that a big naval aud air battle is going on in the Solomons between New Guinea aud Kolombangara Island.

GROWING OPTIMISM Strategy In South Seas

(Received September 17, 10.25 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 17.. “In spite of the widespread belief in the United States that the Japanese must he eliminated from the South-west Pacific island' by island, it is apparent that new techniques are developing in this area, where there are growing indications that the durability of Japanese resistance decreases in direct ratio to the amount of power brought against them.” This view is expressed by Frank Kluckhorn, the “New York Times” correspondent in New Guinea. “At fialamaua,” he says, “we saw Hirohito's men cracking, running and abandoning equipment. Furthermore, the outer defences of Lae have been poorly defended. This is because, for the first time. General MacArthur has been in the position to employ co-ordinated amphibious, air aud laud attacks in a proper manner against the enemy. Their lack of air cover seems particularly to bother the Japanese on the ground, and our air domination makes a marked difference to their fighting ability, while the clipping of their communications from behind appears to throw the.m into a panic, decreasing their battle powers. “General MacArthur still . commands very modest forces. The situation in New Guinea at present is reminiscent of the middle of the Tunisian campaign, when the lack of overwhelming Allied air and ground strength made the end seem far away. The enemy is now trying again to wrest control ot the air from the Allies, who have not yet massed the air strength that was seen in the final stages of the campaign in Tunisia and Sicily. However, one can see tiie pattern forming, and there are almost, enough indications to permit of prophesying that it will be possible to crack the Japanese relatively quickly in the island fighting if and when greater forces arc brought into play.”

JAPANESE ROUT IN VALLEY

Much Equipment Left

SYDNEY, September 17. Tiie Australian troops who captured Heath’s Plantation iu the drive down tbe Markham Valley in New Guinea, found all the equipment needed by the Japanese for a long-holding action, yet the position fell after only a few hours of assault. . „ , An amazing collection of first-class equipment was abandoned by the enemy, including new heavy machineguns still in their packages, light field-guns that had fired only a few shots, and many mortars, none of which was used against our troops. There were, piles of rifles and ammunition, new wireless sets and field telephones, sets of English crockery ware, and plenty of food.

Some of the Japanese at Heaths Plantation were marines, generally regarded as tiie eream of tiie invading force, yet their headquarters, takcii after a short, hitter action, showed the same signs of hasty flight as the rest of the position.

“I think we have proved the Japanese can’t take it when we get in behind them,” said a senior Australian officer with the western force. “When you re in front they will sit for days in their foxholes till you are perhaps 20 or 80 yards away to let you have it and pull the trigger to their last gasp, but once they know you are behind them they just panic and bolt.” Some-Jnpanese soldiers defending the eastern approaches to Lae are reported to have blown themselves up with grenades rather than be captured. The Japanese grenade has to be tapped before it is thrown, ami it appears that the enemy's method of killing himself is to tap a grenade on his bead and then hold it to his heart.