NEW PHASE OPENED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 42, 18 August 1942, Page 5

NEW PHASE OPENED

INTER-ISLAND FIGHTING

NEW YORK, August 16. Naval circles in Washington intimated today that the offensive in the Solomons continued to proceed .satisfactorily, says the Washington correspondent 6f : the "New York Times." However, the Navy Department stated that nothing could be revealed beyond the last com-

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The Associated-Press of America says: "THe! Navy's developing of the conquest of the south-eastern. Solomons is regarded in official quarters here as the opening of a new period of inter-island fighting over the supply lines in the western Pacific. "This will involve not only further American assaults on enemy-held islands, but also probably a continuation of the Japanese efforts to win a position from which the American communications can be severely Vi *"!T* £} c; cj ofJ "The 'immediate purpose of the action in the Solomons is described as twofold: first, to secure the American supply line to Australia and New Zealand against Japanese offensive thrusts; and, secondly, to proyide an advanced base directly menacing the enemy operations and centres to the north-west. "Thus, both military and naval authorities assign only limited objectives to the Solomons offensive, indicating that the big push for victory in the Pacific has not yet started. "Meanwhile, the Navy. continues to maintain official silence regarding the.' progress of the operations in the Solomons."