PACIFIC OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 April 1943, Page 5

PACIFIC OFFENSIVE

RABAUL FIRST OBJECTIVE

NAVAL ACTION PREDICTED

WASHINGTON, April 1.

Newly planned Allied strategy in the Southern Pacific will be aimed primarily against the key Japanese base of Rabaul. This is the opinion of well-informed circles here, where it is believed that the capture of this base, even at heavy cost, might break completely the enemy hold on the occupied territories in that sector. No indication has been given, however, of the plans formulated at the meeting of Pacific war staffs. “From what is known of the conversations it can be assumed that the principal considerations were first, the fullest co-ordination of the three Pacific commands in the operations decided upon, and second, a full exchange of information about the enemy’s condition with a cross checking of estimates of his likely course of action.” writes Joseph C. Harsch in the “Christian Science Monitor.” “It is difficult, however, to. envisage a future major move in tne Pacific" without heavy reliance on air power, necessitating substantial increases in aeroplanes allotted to the Pacific. “But the Navy gets most of its aeroplanes from factories manufacturing exclusively for the Navy. A diversion from this source would not, therefore. affect the European theatre. Further, enough new ships have joined the fleet to transfoun. American sea striking power. Japan had some additions, but nothing comparable in numbers and quality witn the new American ships.” Thus the possibility increases daily of a new move in the Pacific involving- big ships whose function will be to weaken Japanese naval power. Some such move may have been planned in the past two or three weeks. It is certain at least that all the Pacific commanders are now thoroughly informed about .Casablanca and the broad objective of global strategy for 1943. For the first time since Pearl Harbour each knows exactly what his expected role is, and how it dovetails into the whole plan.”

AERIAL OPERATIONS

SYDNEY, April 2. To-dav’s communique from General MacArthur’s Headquarters states: Dutch New Guinea. —At Kaimana one of our medium bombers was intercepted by two enemy fighters and shot both out of action without sustaining damage. Tenimbar Islands. —At Saumlaki our medium units bombed the enemy-occupied town. New Guinea.—At Finschhafen one of our heavy units bombed the harbour area. At Mubo our attack aeroplanes bombed and strafed an enemy position in the Kitchen Creek area from a low altitude, starting numerous tires. No hostile aircraft were encountered.

AMERICAN SUCCESSES

RUGBY, April 2

A United States Navy communique reports further air attacks upon the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands and sharp air fighting near the Solomons, where 16 enemy planes were shot down and an enemy sea force attacked near Guadalcanal. The communique says: “In addition to two attacks on March 30 reported earlier, Kiska received two more attacks that day by bomber and fighter (forces. Heavy explosions and large fires were observed. - “In the South Pacific during Wednesday night a Catalina patrol bomber attacked a Japanese surface force of five destroyers and one cargo vessel south-west of Kolumbangara Island. At the same time, Army Liberators carried out a low-altitude attack against the same force. The results were not observed. “During the morning between 30 and 40 Zeros were engaged by Wildcats and Lightnings north-west of Guadalcanal. Sixteen enemy planes were destroyed. Six of ours were lost, but two pilots were rescued. "A force of Dauntless dive-bomb-ers, escorted by fighters, attacked Japanese positions in Suavanao plantation, south-eastward ol Rekata B’iv The results were not observed.

CONVOY SURVIVORS

SYDNEY, April 1-. Almost a complete lull occurred in the South-west Pacific air war on Thursday. General MacArthm s latest communique reports only minor Allied activity in all sectors, while the Japanese Air Force was completely inactive. There were no reports of any Japanese shipping acconfirmed that Japanese labourunits are working at top speed along the Northern New Guinea coast building a chain of air strips and bases linked by a motor road, inc bases begin at Aitape, but the major development is taking place at Wewak, which is rapidly becoming a second Rabaul. Allied airmen who have repeatedly attacked Wewak, report encountering an increasingly heavv anti-aircraft and searchlight barrage on each successive trip. South-east of Wewak the. Japanese are developing a new airfield al Bogia, which is followed by olderestablished bases at Madang, Saidot, Finschhafen, Malahang, and Salamaua. Hundreds of Japanese survivms from the obliterated Bismarck Sea convoy have been captured by Australian patrols on. Goodenough and Trobriand Islands. Many enemy parties have drifted ashore along die 200 miles of island coastline, and m clashes with our watchful patrols more than 200 of the enemy have been killed. Allied air reconnaissance has kept a close check on these islands. When, such reconnaissance showed some Japanese had come ashore on an unguarded island a special patrol was flown there to deal with them. The first group of Japanese survivors reached the shore a few days after the destruction of the Bismarck Sea convoy and the last stragglers drilled to the beaches 11 days later. Some had escaped in power barges which finally ran out of fuel and were carried ashore by the prevailing current, During all the skirmishes the Japanese showed their usual distaste tor capture. But the treatment they j eceived when taken prisoner apparently altered their attitude. It is recorded that one young Japanese repeatedly said to his captors, ‘ I don l know why you Australians are so kind.”

SOLDIERS WELCOMED SYDNEY, April 2. More than half a million people packed Sydney to-day to welcome the Ninth Division of the A.I.F. on its homecoming march. It was the biggest military march seen in any Australian city in this war. A blizzard of streamers‘and confetti swirled above the marching men. The Allied land Commander-m-Chief, General Blarney, said that it •would not be long before the men of the Ninth Division were engaged in. ’jungle fighting.