SOLOMON AND ALEUTIAN ISLES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20858, 10 August 1942, Page 3

SOLOMON AND ALEUTIAN ISLES

AMERICAN ASSAULT ON TULAGI FAVOURABLE PROGRESS OF FORCES ENEMY LAND AND AIR OPPOSITION (By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright.) (10.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Ajui. 9/ A communique issued by Admiral Chester Nimitz, Oommandcr-in-Chicf of the United States Pacific Fleet, states that forces of the Pacific fleet and the Pacific Ocean areas, assisted by units of the south-west Pacific area, launched offensive operations in the Tulagi area of the Solomons on Friday east longitude time. ’ Operations were progressing favourably despite opposition by enemy land-based aircraft and garrisons. On Saturday a Pacific Fleet task force bombarded enemy ships and installations at Kiska, in the Aleutians. .... .. . ‘‘'Referring to. the Solomons battle,' the Australian Prime ’ Minister, Mr. J. Curtin, speaking at Sydney, said the Washington'communique was the consummation of a series of preparations by the United Nations, including Australia, which had been proceeding for some weeks. “The state I Qf the war is such that it is impossible to surprise the enemy and simultaneously indicate to the people at large the steps which are proceeding,” lie said. “In short, we cannot surprise the enemy unless we subject ourselves to surprises. The War Council knew of this impending operation which was definitely offensive in conception, and revealed the determination of the commands in this theatre to wage a fighting war at the maximum of their resources, at such times and places as sound generalship would dictate. “I can only express the hope that the plans have been so carefully prepared and, I have no doubt, are being so gallantly executed that they will be successful.” The recent Japanese occupation of three undefended and comparatively unimportant island groups north of Australia is overshadowed by the simultaneous American offensives against Japanese in the Solomon and Aleutian islands. The United Nations’ counter-offensive in the Pacific has begun with: an attack by naval “and other forces” in the south-east part of the Solomons, while warships bombarded the enemy at Kiska, the easternmost of the three Aleutian islands seized by Japan at the same time.