TANKS IN ACTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20860, 12 August 1942, Page 4

TANKS IN ACTION

SOLOMONS BATTLE U.S. FORCES’ STRUGGLE HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING (Bv Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (2.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Aug. 12. The Snn Francisco radio said this morning that the. American forces have landed tanks in the Tulagi area of the Solomons where bridgeheads have been established. “Flying fortresses” are helping to cover the American assault. Tire New York radio says the United States Marines are now exerting all efforts to improve their position. United States Marines were engaged in hand-to-hand fighting with the Japanese in the Solomons, according to a Washington message.

The men now in action have been given intensive training in jungle warfare and amphibious operations as a preparation for attacks on Japaneseoccupied islands. American war correspondents in Australia on the Solomons operations are more cautious in assessing the value of the offensive than are observers in the United States. Japanese May Move Now The New York Herald-Tribune representative here issued a warning that it is foolish to believe the Japanese will await the outcome of the Solomons battle before continuing their planned movements elsewhere. Unless the Allies get at the heart of their concentrations quickly, they may move at any time. The correspondent of the New York Times shares the same belief and states that while the Japanese have suffered heavy air losses they have replacements within reach, and they may, furthermore, become sufficiently alarmed by the Solomons action to deflect there units of their major naval and aerial armadas. Although most American correspondents here take the view that the attack will result in greatly reducing the danger to Australia, the New York Times correspondent remarks: “Except for the enemy forces actually engaged in the Solomons battle, every other threat which the Japanese present remains the same as last week and those threats are substantial.” The Japanese convoy attacked south of Timor by Allied bombers on Monday is believed to have been on the way to the Solomons sector with reinforcements. There is no suggestion, however, that any large-scale movement of enemy troops was involved. One of the cargo vessels damaged was about 400 Q tons and a smaller vessel, probably sunk, about 1500 tons.

Australian and American airmen taking part in the raid report having seen the Japanese abandoning the ships. ___________