ENEMY AERODROMES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 12 August 1942, Page 5

ENEMY AERODROMES

DEVASTATING ALLIED RAIDS IMPORTANT EFFECT ON GENERAL OPERATIONS Sydney, Aug. 11. Continuing devastating raids by Allied bombers on enemy aerodromes at Lae, Salamaua and Rabaul have had a highly ant effect on general operations in the Solomons. This was stated today by the spokesman at General Mae Arthur’s headquarters. “No Australian ground troops are en. gaged in the great battle which is now reaching its fourth day,” declared the spokesman, thus denying the previous cabled statements that Australian commando units were involved in land fighting. Considerable significance is attached to Allied bombing raids on enemy shipping concentration south of Timor, but no clear indication of the battle raging on the huge front is yet available at South-West Pacific headquarters. Confirmation of Allied troop landings in the Solomons has given some encouragement to optimism here. Commenting that “too much must not be expected too quickly, “The Sun” in a leading article says: “If this operation is crowned with success and Japan loses control of the Solomons with all their facilities for air and submarine bases from which to harry the east coast of this continent the victory will be worth the losses. It will break any legend which may be fostered throughout Asia and in Japan concerning the invincibility of Japanese arms. It will be a beginning in the reverse process whic v J n time will redbver the Japanese conquests. It will give some immediate relief against Japanese threats to New Guinea and the east coast of Australia.”—P.A. Special Australian Correspondent