PACIFIC DRIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 9, 10 July 1943, Page 5

PACIFIC DRIVE

ALLIED GRIP TIGHTENS

ENCOURAGING SITUATION

(Special P.A. Correspondent.} ! SYDNEY, July 9. American advance patrols have pene- ■ trated within three miles of Munda I airfield, on New Georgia Island, in the central Solomons. They came from a force which landed on Zanana beach, six miles east of the airfield.

Today's communique from General Mac Arthur's headquarters reports a minor clash with the Japanese near Elolo, which probably forms part of the outer rim of Munda's defences. The progress reported represents a three-mile advance since dawn on Monday. Japanese troops encountered at Elolo were repulsed.

No fresh reports have been received j of the progress of the second arm of the American pincer force, which landed at Rice anchorage, four miles north-east of Beiroko harbour, which is Munda's supply base.

War correspondents in the area say that the land situation in New Georgia is "very satisfactory." Official announcements refer to consolidation and patrolling activities, and these details suggest that pressure against Munda is being tightened. Observers expect stern fighting as the action develops. JAPANESE DRIVEN OFF. General Mac Arthur's communique today reports an attempted landing by a party of 20 Japanese on Dugiri Island, off the north-east coast of Rendova. They were driven off by American patrols. Four Japanese detachments in barges have been reported moving about the area in the past few days. The inadequacy of the Japanese air effort in countering the current offensive indicates that the enemy is critically short of combat aircraft, says Tillman Durdin, "New York Times" war correspondent in the South-west Pacific. He adds that unless the Japanese are drastically reinforced soon, the time is not far off when Allied planes in the Pacific will virtually sweep them from the skies. "The Japanese have been able to make only ineffectual stabs against the American advances, leaving dozens of profitable targets unattacked," writes Mr. Durdin. . "Their major air effort has been directed at halting the Americans in New Georgia. They have been able to spare only a smattering of aircraft for operations at the other end of the fighting line, in the New Guinea area. "Informed quarters blame lack of aircraft for the Japanese failure' to bomb our landing parties on Trobriand and Woodlark Islands. Lieutenant-General Kenney's relentless poundings of Japanese - aerodromes at Rabaul throughout June, which were successful beyond expectations, greatly damaged parked aircraft. "The overall aviation situation in the Pacific is encouraging. If Japan cannot replenish her strength soon, she will certainly be unable to hold many of her far-flung conquests, and will be forced to fall back to shorter lines of defence and communication."