U.S. NAVY INITIATIVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21142, 9 July 1943, Page 3

U.S. NAVY INITIATIVE

SOFTENING-UP MUNDA GUNS AND DIVE-BOMBERS (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, July 8. United States surface forces continue to hold the initiative in the central Solomons following the ending of the Battle of Kula Gulf. Admiral William Halsey’s Headquarters, in making this announcement. adds that American troops are mopping up Japanese resistance on Rendova Island and on southern New Georgia Island are making progress. The consensus of opinion is that the task of defeating the Japanese naval force was to bombard the United States’ positions on Rendova Island and so help to relieve the pressure on i the enemy air base of Hunda in New Georgia. The American warships intercepted and attacked before the Japanese task force reached its target area. The unprecedented use for this theatre of artillery and divebombers is being made to soften up enemy resistance at Munda. “Perhaps this blasting will prove the answer to the enemy’s stubborn ‘dig in or die’ tactics which prolonged both the Papuan and Guadalcanar campaigns,” writes the Sydney Daily Telegraph’s war correspondent in the South Pacific, Mr. Osmar White. “Never has any Japanese base received such prolonged and concentrated poundings. Munda on Tuesday was plastered by both medium bombers and dive-bombers with nearly 50 tons of bombs aimed at the camp areas and gun positions. Despite heavy anti-aircraft fire, our aircraft returned without loss.” It is reported that the American forces have established bridgeheads on New Georgia flanking the Munda base. While adverse weather delays fullscale air operations, observers believe that the development of the final assault against Munda will not long be delayed. The Americans are rapidly building up a strong base at Rendova Island, from which island heavy artillery is shelling Munda. Invasion ships are discharging a steady stream of supplies at the island, while ashore bulldozers and scoops are ripping out roads, bivouac areas and ammunition dumps. Quoting' the Japanese military attache at Vichy, the Paris radio said: “The Americans apparently intend to nibble away at advanced Japanese positions in the South Pacific. These are extremely slow and costly tactics.”