SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN

Grey River Argus, 27 January 1943, Page 5

SOLOMONS CAMPAIGN

Important U.S. Capture ON GUADALCANAR

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 12.40) WASHINGTON, Jan. 26. Americans have captured Kokumbuna, says the Associated Press. It was one of the Teatest conquests by the American land forces in the Solomons. It advances, the American front lines two or three miles beyond Point Cruz, depriv'ng the enemy of a coastal point used in landing supplies and reinforcements. Furthermore it considerably reduces the total area over which the enemy can manoeuvre and hide <n his tenacious attempts to maintain his toehold on Guadalcanal'. The Americans, apparently, are pushing their front forward in an effort to bottle up and wipe out dwindling Japanese forces or; the north-western end of the island. The American Navy Department states: In the South Pacific on January 22, during the morning. United States ground forces at Guada-1-Canar Island attacked a Japanese positions, west of the airfield. Despite strenuous opposition, six important elevations were captured and 110 Japanese were killed. On January 23, continued aggressive tactics enabled the American forces to capture Kokumbona, and seize quantities of stores and equipment. American troops continued mopping up pockets of enemy resistance, 91 Japanese being killed and 40 taken prisoner. ENEMY AIR RAIDS. LONDON, Jan. 25. On the night of Saturday and Sunday, enemy ’planes raided American positions at Guadalcanal U.S. Attacks ON OTHER ISLANDS. INVASION OF NEW GEORGIA. < MOOTED. LONDON, Jan. 25. The U.S. Navy reports: On Friday and Saturday, American forces bombarded enemy positions at Kokombanga Island. New Georgia. The operations were successfully completed. Fire and explosions at fuel ammunition dumps indicated that the enemy-held area was completely burned out. American aircraft bombed and damaged a large destroyer- and cargo ship in the Shortland Island area. SYDNEY. Jan. 26.

From Washington, there come suggestions that American forces are likely soon to invade Munda.i where there is an aerodrome, on the island of New Georgia, north-west of Guadalcanal The area would give th' Americans complete aerial superiority, ensuring domination of the Solomons, and contributing largely towards the complete security of New Zealand and North-eastern Australia. The New York “Herald-Tribune” correspondent says: Intensive bombing attacks on Munda raise justifiable hopes that this enemy base js being softened up for an early invasion bv American, forces, who are rapidly completing the destruction of. the Jananese on Guadalcanar. Although the American Navy officials have declined to comment, they admit that Munda, 180 miles north-west of Henderson airfield, is the logical objective for an extension of the Allied offensive. .