“BATTLE OF SOLOMON ISLANDS”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20859, 11 August 1942, Page 5

“BATTLE OF SOLOMON ISLANDS”

drive by allies PUSH ENEMY OUT repossess" islands STRATEGIC POSITIONS (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (2.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 10. The highest importance is attached here to what the Japanese radio has referred to as the “battle for the Solomons.” Preparations for the engagement have been the best-kept secret of the south-west Pacific war. No indication has yet been given of the size of the forces engaged, but it is generally accepted that Australian troops are taking part in the operations. It is believe* that the attacks are no mere hit-ancf-run enterprise, but a determined move by the Allies to drive the Japanese out of the Solomons and repossess the islands. Re-possession of the Solomons would smash the eastern end of too 3200 miles arc of enemy bases, enveloping northern Australia. The Solomons would then be ..linked up with New Hebrides and New Caledonia as “a string of Pacific sentinels for the Allies." threat to Japanese The establishment of Allied bases in the area wtould provide striking points against Rabaul. Japanese concentrations in Papua, where the enemy is now believed to have some 20,000 troops in the Buna-Gona sector, would be imperilled in a sea and land pincers movement between Pori Moresby, and the Solomons. In addition, it is believed that the occupation of the Solomons would provide security for shipping in Australia s sea lanes, since enemy submarines are thought ta be based in this area. The Japanese forces first landed in the Solomons on January 25 at Kieta, on Bougainville Island. Bases were then established in several of the northern islands of the group. The occupation grew more serious on June 19 when large enemy forces landed on Guadalcanal;; further south, where the construction of large airfields was immediately begun. The enemy forces there were increased on July 4. Guadalcanal is about 600 miles from Rabaul, which was the main target of the Allied aircraft “inderdiction raids,” Having as their object making the enemy, aerodromes unusable .for a long period. Ti)e raids are believed to have been markedly successful. Violent Seii At&cks Whild no official; ne\ys has been released, it is atitJbiphted that the Japanese forces in the area attacked, principally the bases. grqtjhd TvjlfigL would offer strong resistance. • Japanese Imperial HeadquartetsannounQed that units of the Japanese fleet had initiated violent' attacks on units' of the British and American fleet m the Solomons area and that the battle was St Prollinemte “is" givto'n here to the views’ of the?noted American, analyst Major Fielding Eliot, who says: The attack will hardly stop in the sputheastern Solomons. Merely to seize a few of these islands would be- to, lea I . c isolated garrisons exposed! to concentrated Japanese attacks under conditions wholly favourable to the enemy It is therefore' quite possible that what we are now seeing is the beginning of a : campaign to drive the enemy off the whole area,” • ~ ""'Ay This, he says, would relieve all anxiety about a Japanese attack on Australia’s east coast or on New Zealand, and would be the best safeguard for American-Australian communications. It would also re nder the Pacific. ■ - ' -