THE SOLOMONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24355, 18 August 1942, Page 5

THE SOLOMONS

AEKODEOME SITE guadalcanar plains BY H. TREVOR FAIRBROTHER On Guadalcanar, over 90 miles long an d the largest of the British Solomons, conditions are vastly different from those of the Gela or Florida Group. The south coast of Guadalcanar is unlikely to figure in the news. It is steep and difficult, with mountain ranges rising from it, little or no flat land, and uneasy, unsafe, open roadsteads for ships,* with steep, dangerous beaches on which to land. Its rainfall is heavy and it is not suited to any military operation. nor could tanks or troops easily cross the mountains to the northern coast, facing Tulagi. The northern coast >f of which the nearest point is 21 miles from Tulagi, } s a different proposition. The climate is the driest in the Solomons, the southeast winds being robbed of their moisture when they strike the 8000 ft. mountains which parallel the other coast. In these mountains lies the gold which was bringing the Solomons back to prosperity. Plains lor Aerodromes

At the northern foot of the ranges, down to the sea. stretch great, grassy plains—almost the only part of the group not wholly covered by jungle. These plains are obviously 'ideal for aerodromes and are the only suitable place for a thousand miles. The dry climate, nearly as dry as New Zealand, w ould enable work to be carried on that could not be done in the very wet conditions usual through the rest of the Solomons. For years before the war, the Japanese. in sampans, ostensibly as poachers of trochus shell, dived off the shores of the Solomons, New Guinea, Northern Australia and the Netherlands Indies. What information they took back can he imagined. The suitability of places for warlike operations would be well known to them. Coastal Road

A fair road runs along the whole northern Guadalcanar coast, but, in spite of crocodiles, few of the numerous rivers are bridged. These rivers are subject to incredibly sudden flooding from rain in the mountains while the sun is shining on the coast. The roads are constructed and maintained, as in New Guinea, by the Datives under Government supervision. Motor-cars can be used on them, subject to the restriction of the lack of By using their own engineering corps or impressing the natives, the Japanese could quickly construct bridges. In the present season, which is that of the south-easterlies, the north coast is sheltered and landings could easily be made on the beaches, which are sandy. At Point Cruz is an excellent anchorage for small craft. On the foothills gun emplacements could easily be established from which the Japanese could shell Allied vessels. The beach here is fringed with bush and coconuts, which would screen landing barges and also the enemy waiting for them

Tall Grass on Prairies The grass of the prairies is tall and would provide plentv of shelter, but in dry weather it can be fired, to the embarrassment of anyone hidden there. About 2000 acres of the plains are planted with coconuts. Apart from the numerous harbours of the islands of the Gela cluster, the nearest shelter for a fleet in the centra! and eastern Solomons would be Thousand Ships Bay, on the southeastern end of Ysabel, or one of the numerous harbours of Malaita. But Guadalcanar provides the only large plains from which land-based aircraft can be used.

RUGBY FOOTBALL RETENTION OF PEACE CUP Pukekohe.—The Pukekohe representatives retained the Peace Cup by defeating Matamata in a sensational finish in a challenge match on Saturday. Matainata led !>—s at half-time, and held an advantage uf eiuht points with a quarter of an hour to cro The Pukekohe backs then took charge and the winning try was scored one minute before time For Pukekohe J. Dunn and T. Millen each obtained tno tries, Dunn converting one. For Matamata D. Bell scored two tries and kicked a penalty sroal and W. Brown potted a eoal. Mr. M W Thompson, of Auckland. *as referee

SECONDARY SCHOOLS* TEAM

The following team has been selected to represent the Auckland secondary schools in & Rugby match against the Auckland third grade representatives at Eden Park on Saturday next. —Fullback, McKay (Auckland Grammar); threequarters, Simpson Bowden, McDiarmid (all Auckland Grammar); five-eighths. Coleman (Takapuna Grammar), Rowe (Technical College); halfback, Bremner (Technical College) or McQuillan (Sacred Heart) : back row, Groves (Technical College); middle row. Rope (Auckland Grammar) and Harding, Taylor and Puriri (all Mount Albert Grammar); front raw Mac* alister (King's College), Wyatt (Sacred Heart), Farquarson (Auckland Grammar). Emergencies: Backs, J. Tanner (Auckland Grammar). Rule (Sacred Heart); forwards, Fletcher and Waldegrave (Mount Albert Grammar) Menzies (Technical College).

MATCHES IN THE SOUTH Wellington.—Jubilee Cup: Petone, '"26, Poiieke-Oriental, 9; Wellington, 15. Seatoun, 0; Hutt. S, University, f>; Army, 21, Wellington College Old Boys. 6; Eastbourne, 9, A.A Battery. 3; Marist, 10, Athletic, 0. Petcne won the Cnp. Hardham Cup: Air Force. 13, Wellington Regiment, 8; A.S.C., 36, Onslow, e ; A.N.A.. 8, Pirates. 3; Minimar. 13. .lohnsonville 7. Air Force won the cup Cunedin,—ln a keenly-contested representative match Canterbury beat Ofago by 9 Points to 6. Westport.—ln the first Seddon Shield match of the season Bnller (holder) defeated Marlborough by 17 points to 9. The visiting team was much heavier than Buller. Stewart, Boiler's fullback was in great form, kicking three penalty sroals and converting one try.

JUNIOR LEAGUE TEAM The Auckland Rugby League Junior representative team to play South Auckland next Saturday is as follows:—Lake, F. Johnstone (Mount Albert). Jones, W. Smith, Draccvitch (Glenora), Osborne. Fielder, Harkness, Nugent (Green Lane), Price, B. Simp»n, Granich (Ellerslie), Ryan, Barnes (Point Chevalier). Godfrey, Redfern (Avondalc).

LADIES' GOLF MATCHES

Orakel.—Stableford bogev played at Chainoerla in Park: Mrs. F. Smith. 2!>; Mrs cparkes, 28; Mrs. Leigh, Mrs. Wells. 27. C grade. Mrs. Harlen First round of Hardman J- n P: Mr 3 Wells beat Mrs. Whitten, (i and 5; Mrs. Verran beat Miss Whittaker, 5 and »; Miss L Craig beat Mrs. A. Stanaway, * and S: Mrs. F. Smith beat Mrs. Harlen, 2 an d 5; Mrs. Sparkes beat Miss B. Mac--5 and 3; Mrs. N. Leigh beat Miss P. uiadwel!, o and '>■, Miss Baitersby won from Mrs Doyle by default; Miss Berry won from ilrs East by default.

ANOTHER WIN FOR HOGAN ffiecd. 5.5 p. m ) NEW YORK, Aug. 17 Ben Hoftan added the 5000 dollars Roches- |« limes Union open tournament to his long hst ol golfing triumphs, with a 72 hole jotal of 278. Craig Wood was second with «1. and Harold McSpaden third with 282.

AMERICAN BASEBALL (ftp rd 0.-i p.m.) NEW YORK. Aug. 17 , The latest baseball games were all doubleocaders (; ü bs beat Pirates, s—l. 4—l. the fining pitchers being Bill Lee and Bill jj c .""ng Indians beat Browns, 3 —2, in 11 (Pninics Browns took the nightcap, G —l. Red ?. 0x beat Senators. 6—-1. 10 —3. Ted Williams led the way to victory in the opener, in (5* " Iree h'ts. Red Sox scored five runs t .' le first innings of the Nightcap from Ron uc ' c Xewsom. Cardinals defeated 3™!» l'->—s, fi—3, getting fiva runs in a "Hgje innings in each game. Sn - s a double-header from White : Pitcher Hal Newhouser winning the pener, 3—2, in 11 innings. Tigers got four ln . the sixth innings of the nightcap P'Jcher Edjrar Smith, winning 7 —3. a» f 8 . ea * Pt'iJlies, the score in the third iL fitra| ght games being 6—5. Giants got i", unearned runs in the first innings and in (v, P'tchcr Frank Hocrst from his box iiL se ??nd innings. With A 1 Javery allowone hit Braves beat Dodgers. 2 —o in a called off after the seventh innings Jn» r* e - the conditions. Home runs by HVL Maggio, Joe Gordon and Marvin « I, rs .. off . four-hit pitching gave Yankees haitoH • YL ctor -Y ovcr Athletics in ft game "®o in the sixth innings.