SOLOMONS OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1942, Page 5

SOLOMONS OFFENSIVE

LAND FIGHTING SEVERE

PROGRESS BY U.S.A. TROOPS

American Press Optimistic

LONDON, August 12.

According to a message from Washington the United States Navy says that the action in the Tulagi area continues, but nothing further can be reported at the moment. “Men of the United States Marine Corps have opened the door to an Allied offensive in the South Pacific,” says a Marine Corps headquarters statement. The marines have been practising invasion tactics day and night as a prelude to the Solomon Islands landing, including intensive jungle warfare combined with landing exercises. Marines specially trained in amphibious operations are now engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese in the Solomon Islands.

Senator D. I. Walsh, Chairman of the Senate Naval Affairs Committee, said in Washington to-night that the United States Navy Department appeared satisfied with the progress of the battle in the Solomon Islands. He said that he had just telephoned to the Secretary of the Navy (Colonel Frank’ Knox), but declined to comment on the conversation. “While there is no hard news about the battle in the Solomons, the general feeling is that the Allied forces are still making progress towards their objective," states the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s observer at an advanced base. “That objective appears to be occupation of the islands of Florida and Guadalcanal', against which the whole weight of the Allied offensive is being thrown." It appeared that United States marines and shock troops were firmly established in this area, stated the observer. The Allied naval forces were still supporting the ground forces in face of determined attacks from Japanese aircraft operating from land bases. The possession of Guadalcanal 1 and Florida Islands would give the Allies two vital bases from which to prevent attacks on the supply route to Australia and from which to cover any Japanese sea move from Rabaul, the observer added.

COURSE OF OPERATIONS.

NAVAL OFFICER'S SURMISE

(Recci. 1.10 am.) NEW YORK, August 12. An interesting conjecture about course of the Solomons battle is offered by the Washington correspondent of the “Herald-Tribune. Quoting an unnamed naval officer, he says the action may have taken the following form since Friday. First, a bombardment of enemyaerodromes by Army, and Navy bombers and torpedo planes. Second, a struggle for air supremaCThird, an advance by the heaviest American surface units, adding their gunfire barrage to the aerial bomb ardment, and helping to provide a protective curtain for the landing troops. , . , Fourth, possible paratroop landings to aid the commandos from transports and barges. , , Fifth, shelling enemy air and troop bases by cruisers and destroyers plunging towards the shore d nd^r an umbrella of aerial and na Y al f- 1 Sixth aircraft-carriers standing by. with battleships, cruisers and destroyers between them and the enemy sending planes repeatedly against the Japanese. b At a meeting of the Pacific War Council, at White House, the Solomons battle was discussed Dr. Soong said that China is much encouraged by the offensive. He added that available news of the action was limited. ~,i+h MSir W. Dixon remained with ivi.. Roosevelt for an additional conference after the other members had left. The reason for this conierenc was not disclosed.

fairly heavy losses

(N Z P.A. Special Australian Correspondent)

SYDNEY. August 12. Fifty Allied warships and also IUU transports, carrying troops and eauipment, are believed to b- nox engaged in the battle for the Solomon Islands. The official reports, when issued, are expected to reveal mat the attacking fleet is the ° that has yet been employed by either side in the Pacific wai. Fan 1., heavy losses are expected. The latest Washington messages, published here, indicate that the Allied land forces have gained sonu success in the face of strong Japanese counter-attacks. The United States marines are now supported by United States Army troops. They have been engaged in desperate -xand-to ha fighting on the beaches and in the jungle hinterland of South-east Solo i mon Islands. The enemy’s airfields on i Tulagi and of Guadalcanal' are believed to be the primary Allied objectives. With these airfields in Allied possession, Allied land-based aircraft would make it costly foi the Japanese to attempt to bring up reinforcements. .. J ~ , ~ n Reports from Hawaii siaie that me Japanese are fighting fiercely io retain their positions in the Solomons, as" they realise what a heavy blow the loss of these islands would be to their Pacific strategy. Australian newspaper correspondents in the United States say mm this, the first seaborne offensive in America’s history, has sent a wave of confidence through the country. There is an optimistic note m all of the newspapers. The American public, the correspondents state, are reconciled to heavy losses, but thev are keenly gratified to know that the Allies have, at last, gone alter me Japanese and are hitting hard.

CABINET’S DISCUSSION

The Solomon Islands battle is known to have besn discussed at todav’s meeting of the Australian ar Cabinet. The latest despatches are said to be “encouraging..” But they are also said to give no cause lor any premature rejoicing. Australia is prepared for losses among her naval units which are engaged. There are no Australian troops taking part in the Solomons operations. The A.lied aircraft of the South-west Pacific Command are maintaining their attacks on enemy shipping and enemy reinforcement bases. American war correspondents in Australia, in messages to their papers, continue to be cautiously guarded in their assessments of the value of tne present operations. “Although the offensive continues over a thousand miles arc, it cannot be considered as approaching the conception of a second front, says Mr Lewis Sebring, of the New York “Herald-Tribune.” “A limited offensive is a more accurate description. Mr Bryon Darnton, of the “New York Times,” draws attention to tne restricted nature of the supplies that are reaching Australia. He remarks: “Some may have thought that the news of an offensive has contradicted the news of the Australian equipment position. However, the Solomons offensive is being run by Admiral Ghorijiley and not by General

MacArthur. The announcements setting forth the equipment position of General MacArthur’s area were factual.”

MORE HOPEFUL TONE.

(N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Correspondent)

i (Rec. 2.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 13. ) News from the Solomons is believ--1 ed here to be more encouraging than 'for the past few days. The atmosIphere at General MacArthur’s Southi west Pacific Headquarters has been I one of expectant waiting. However, jthe battle is said to show no signs of ■ ending, and there is no indication of I the position becoming stabilised. ! American forces are moving inland ■ in the Tulagi area and are now lock'ed in fierce hand-to-hand fighting with Japanese troops. I The San Francisco radio reports the I Japanese are said to have launched a heavy counter-attack. ; The A.B.C. Washington correspond- [ ent says that American paratroops I are being employed to harass the (Japanese positions in the Solomons. American reports indicate that our naval units are still off the coast. This indicates that Allied air superior-

ity is being maintained, since it would be impossible for ships to operate close inshore for long periods, without air control. War correspondents at General MacArthur’s Headuarters say that judgment on the Solomons operations must be reserved until it is sure that the gains we made have been consolidated beyond the possibility of a repulse. The only facts definitely known from official communiques are that, the Allies have established bridgeheads in the Tulagi area, and that each side has sustained losses. Allied land gains have not been specified, but a hopeful note begins to appear in the communiques. The military view is that the reasonable cost does not count if the objective is gained, but in long-range strategy, it is inevitable that results must be assessed in relation to the losses basis. For this, the assessment is not ship for ship, plane for plane, man for man, but the capacity of the opposing forces to withstand and recover from those losses. The American .Associated Press correspondent at Honolulu describes the attack as “the beginning of a continuous campaign, which owing to its amphibious nature, will appear to be a sequence of piecemeal and separate operations.” He quotes a military observer as agreeing that the United Nations’ offensive in the South-west Pacific will be “long and hitter The “Sydney Herald” war correspondent says: “If we do no more at this stage than set up a few isolated bases, the effort will have been justified.”

ALLIED AERIAL ATTACKS

SYDNEY, August 12

Further bombing attacks on enemy shipping off Timor are reported in to-day’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters. The sinking of a Japanese cargo ship in this area on Monday afternoon was confirmed by pilots taking part in Tuesday’s raids. The latest attack on the Timor area was carried out by Allied medium bombers, but the results are not known. Medium bombers also scored direct hits on a wharf and buildings at Toeal in the Kei Islands, about halfway between Timor and the south-western coast of New Guinea. ■ _ P „u to „ c Two out of seven Zero fighters which attacked an Allied bombing force north of Samari in New Guinea,' were shot down lor the loss of one Allied aeroplane. Other Zeros were damaged. . The offensive against Rabaul was continued in a night raid on the aeiodrome. Bombs fell near a runway.

MR. CURTIN AND CRITICS

MELBOURNE, August 12. As long as he remained head of the Government he would not permit military leaders to be made the scapegoats for national deficiencies, declared Mr. Curtin speaking at, afunction commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the city of Melbourne. There must be no criticism which would militate against the Allies, oi was against the development of a spirit of mutual aid among the Allies. Solidarity among the Allies was essential to make the most ot the common pool of resources. That solidarity was not aided by the creation of confusions and misunderstandings. Tne Governments of Britain, the United States, Russia, and China fully understood the position of Australia just as Australia understood their position. , “We do not hear Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt criticising each other, nor do you hear me criticising Mr. Churchill or Mr. Churchill criticising me,” he said. “In military operations I believe the best counsel resides in those who have professional training ana give it. The Government accepts full .political responsibility for the decisions oi the High Command. After making its' plans the High Command confers with the Government on them, and then they act together.”

ALEUTIAN ISLANDS

U.S.A. OFFICIAL REPORT

WASHINGTON, August 11

A United States Navy communique says: “Information has been received regarding the following incidents in the Aleutian Islands:— “On July 22 Army bombers raided the area of Kiska Harbour, but because of fog the results were not observed. On July 29 Navy patrol aeroplanes attacked Kiska, and at night Army bombers attacked shore installations and ships in the same area. “On August 3 Japanese aircraft attasked the United States destroyer Kane off Atka Island, 305 miles east of Kiska, but inflicted no damage. Army bombers again atacked the Kiska Harbour area, but the results were not observed. On August 4 Army pursuit aeroplanes shot down two seaplane bombers of the Kawanisi 97 type. “On August 8 a Pacific Fleet task force, protected by Navy patrol aircraft, heavily bombarded a group of enemy ships, camp facilities, and shore installations at Kiska. The attack was a complete surprise to the Japanese. The enemy, mistaking the first salvos of shells for bombs, opened anti-aircraft fire against imagined aeroplanes. An intensive bombardment from the guns of cruisers and destroyers soon silenced the shore batteries, started fires, and inflicted severe damage in a camp area. The only enemy resistance was from aircraft. Our loss consisted of one observation aeroplane. “On August 9 naval patrol aeroplanes followed up the bombardment by attacking two cargo ships in Kiska Harbour, scoring two hits with I bombs on each ship, and causing ' severe damage. Observers also sighted a sunken cargo vessel which is believed to have been sunk during the previous bombardment by naval forces.”