SOUTH-EAST SOLOMONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 42, 18 August 1942, Page 3

SOUTH-EAST SOLOMONS

IJAP HOLD BROKEN

AIR REINFORCEMENTS FOR ATTACKERS

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Special Australian Correspondent.) (Rec. 2.15 p.m.) ; SYDNEY,, August 18. Japan's hold on all the islands in the south-east Solomons is be- > lieved to have been broken. The latest reports indicate that the Allies are now using captured air bases in the islands. •-.-■' It is understood that no Aus-tralian-based bombevs have taken part in the Solomons offensive since last Wednesday. This suggests that the Allies now control sufficient islands to provide close air support. ' ■ A Washington estimate says that 5000 square miles, more than one-third of th,el total area of the Solomons, is now 'urider. the control of the Allied forces. The important Tulagi harbour area is firmly held ,by . American marines, while Allied entrenchments on the other islands grow stronger daily. . • .. ..-"■ . '■. !. ... - * END EXPECTED SOON. ; It is reported from Hawaii, headquarters 6t the U.S. Pacific Fleet, that there is an expectant air that the Solomons battle will soon end in victory.'-- \ ■'■'■: ■■- ': '.'.- ■''.'■' ' :''■-' •'■■.':' ■•■■ ' '■•■ , A-Washington report says the Allied air reinforcements arriving at captured bases in th^ Solomons are, not purely for defensive purposes to fight oft Japanese counter-thrusts, 'but will also carry the offensive northwards. Resistance is-expected to continue 'on . the j larger islands in the south-ea'stiSolomons from enemy de- ;■ tachments which escaped into: the jungles and the mountains. : Some" American observers say the Solomons attack is/ merely the forerunner of a tieinehdous Allied Pacific plish. The! Allies intend to fortify the .Solomons strongly/ turning them into a "Gibraltar ,of the South-west '■■Paciflc/v.'-'ri:-'■■■■'■;■ A ?-;- •:■-'■-■.■•'.'■. .-■■■.:;:•■•.:■ :/'.?:A;MbRE,-ENEMY:AIR,;bASES. ■ ■■/. It is pointed \ out, that the Japanese still possess air bases- in the northern Solomons and that they'will be able to keep- up raids on the Allied positidns.' -':: -f /•.'■.-.;-. •"■■<!■'■-' ■ .•-.• ' ,;■..-' :'..■.'. : ■ The; primary Allied task will be to • win control of the remaining airfields. .With all^ the airflelds^^ in ;.the > group uhder Allied control, the: task of crushing the remaining resistance should be comparatively easy, r ' V-x. j ; s