Probable Form Of Air, Sea And Land Attack On Solomons

Northern Advocate, 13 August 1942, Page 3

Probable Form Of Air, Sea And Land Attack On Solomons

(Received 1.45*p.m.) NEW YORK, August 12. AN INTERESTING CONJECTURE ABOUT THE COURSE OF H THE SOLOMONS BATTLE IS OFFERED BY THE WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT OF THE “HERALD-TRIBUNE.”

Quoting- an unnamed officer, he says the action may have taken the following form since Friday: (1) Bombardment of enemy aerodromes by army and navy bombers and torpedo planes. (2) A struggle for air supremacy. (3) An advance by the heaviest American surface units, adding their gunfire barrage to aerial bombardment and helping to provide a protective curtain for landing troops. (4) Possible paratroop landings to aid Commandos from transports and barges. (5) Shelling of enemy air and troop bases by cruisers and destroyers, plunging towards the shore under an umbrella of aerial and naval fire. (6) Aircraft-carriers standing by with battleships, cruisers and destroyers between them and the enemy, sending planes repeatedly against the Japanese.

Official Communique ' A navy communique issued in Washington says: “(1) Operations in the Solomons are progressing. (2) It is confirmed that United States marines landed as scheduled on three islands in the vicinity of Tulagi. Marines are now engaged consolidating their positions. Supporting naval forces have been engaged in bitter fighting, details of which are not yet available. United States army and Australian planes are continuing attacks on enemy landing fields and shore-based aircraft. (3) There is substantial evidence that the Japanese planned and had well under way development of an enemy base in the Tulagi area. (4) Until more details are available it is impossible to elaborate further on these operations. All available communication facilities are over-taxed by urgent messages concerning the operations." Brighter News News from the Solomons is believed here to be more encouraging than for the past few days. The atmosphere at General MacArthur's south-west Pacific headquarters has been one of expectant waiting. However, the battle is said to show no signs of ending and there are no indications of the position becoming stabilised. American forces are moving inland in the Tulagi area, and are now locked in fierce hand-to-hand fighting with the Japanese troops. San Francisco radio reports that the Japanese are said to have launched a heavy counter-attack. The A.B.C. Washington correspondent says that American paratroops are being employed to harass the Japanese positions in the Solomons. Battleships and aircraft-carriers are understood to be involved in the battle as well as cruisers, destroyers, submarines and troop transports. Allies Control Air * American reports indicate that our naval units are still off the coast. This indicates that Allied air superiority is being maintained, since it would be impossible for ships to operate close inshore for long periods without air control. War correspondents at General MacArthur’s headquarters say judgment on the Solomons’ operations must be reserved until it is sure that the gains we have made have been consolidated beyond the possibility of repulse. The only facts definitely known from official communiques are that the Allies have established bridge-heads in the Tulagi area and that each side has sustained losses. Allied land gains have not been specified, but a hopeful note begins tc appear in communiques. Assessing- Losses The military view is that reasonable cost does not count if the objective is gained, but in long-range strategy it if inevitable that results must be assessed in relation to losses. The basis for this assessment is not ship for ship, plane for plane and man for man, but the capacity of the opposing forces to Withstand and recover from those losses. The American Associated Press correspondent at Honolulu describes the attack as “the beginning of a continuous campaign which, owing to its amphibious nature, will appear to be a sequence of piecemeal, and separate operations.” He quotes military observers as agreeing that the United Nations’ offensive in the South Pacific will be “long and bitter.” The “Sydney Morning Herald” war correspondent says: “If we do no more at this stage than set up a few isolated bases, the effort will have been justified.” Main Topic for War Council At the meeting of the Pacific War Council at White House, the Solomons battle was principally discussed. Mr. Soong said China was much encouraged t>y the offensive and added that available news of the action was limited. The Australian representative (Mr. Loudon Dixon) remained with President Roosevelt for an additional conference after other members had left. The l’eason is not disclosed. Official Reticence The Navy Department at Washington says that the action in the Tulagi area is continuing, but nothing further can be reported at present. United States marines have opened the door to an Allied offensive in the South Pacific, says a Marine Headquarters statement. Marines have been practising invasion tactics day and night as a prelude to the Solomons landing, including intensive jungle warfare combined with landing exercises. Marines, specially trained in amphibious operations, are now engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese in the Solomons. Biggest Armada Engaged Fifty Allied warships and 100 transports carrying troops and equipment are believed to be engaged in the battle for the Solomons. Official reports are expected to reveal that the attacking fleet is the large.st yet employed by either side in the Pacific war. Fairly heavy losses are expected. Latest Washington messages published here indicate that the Allied land forces have gained some success in the face of strong Japanese coun-ter-attacks. Hand-To-Hand On Beaches, Jungle The United States marines, now supported by United States army troops, have been engaged in desperate hand-to-hand fighting pn the beaches and in the jungle in the hinterland of the south-east Solomons. Enemy airfields on Tulagi and Guadalcanal are believed to be the primary objectives. With these airfields in our possession, Allied land-based

aircraft would make it costly for the Japanese to attempt to bring up reinforcements.

Reports'from Hawaii state that the Japanese are fighting fiercely to retain their positions, realising what a heavy blow the loss of these islands would be to their Pacific strategy. Australian newspaper correspondents in the United States say this first sea-borne offensive in America’s history has sent a wave of confidence through the country. There is an optimistic note in all newspapers. Although the public is reconciled to heavy losses, it is keenly gratified to know that the Allies at last have gone after the Japanese and are hitting hard. The Solomons battle is known to have been discussed at today’s meeting of the Australian War Cabinet. Latest despatches are said to be “encouraging, but give no cause for premature rejoicing.” Australia da prepared for losses among her naval units engaged. No Australian troops are taking part in the operations. Allied aircraft of the south-west Pacific Command are maintaining their attacks on enemy shipping and reinforcement bases. American war correspondents in Australia, in messages to their papers, continue to be cautionsly guarded in the assessments of the value of the present operations. “Although the offensive continues over a arc, it cannot be considered as approaching a second front conception,” says Lewis Sebring, of the “New York Herald-Tribune.” “A limited offensive is a more accurate description.” Bryon Darnton, of the “New York Times,” draws attention to the restricted supplies reaching Australia. “Some may have thought the news of the offensive contradicted the news of the Australian equipment position. However, the Solomons offensive is being run by Admiral Ghormley, not by General MacArthur. Announcements setting forth the equipment position in General MacArthur’s area were factual.” Ships Bombed At Timor Further bombing attacks on enemy shipping off Timor are reported in today’s communique from General MacArthur’s headquarters. The sinking of a Japanese cargo ship in this area on Monday afternoon was confirmed by pilots taking part in Tuesday’s raids. The latest attack in the Timor area was carried out by Allied medium bombers, but the results are not known. Medium bombers also scored direct hits on a wharf and buildings at Toetal and Kei islands, about half-way to Timor and the south-western coast of New Guinea: Two of the seven Zero fighters which attacked an Allied bombing force north of Samarai, in New Guinea, were shot down. We lost one plane and others were damaged.. The offensive against Rabaul was continued in a night raid on an aerodrome, when bombs fell near the runway.