AMERICAN AIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24749, 24 November 1943, Page 3

AMERICAN AIMS

CUTTING SUPPLY LINES RELATION TO RABAUL DIVISION OF ENEMY POWER (7.30 p.m.) PEAEL HARBOUR, Nov. 23 Naval commentators say that the American offensive in the Central Pacific will have the effect of splitting Japanese air and sea power. While formerly the Japanese were able to concentrate warships and planes at Rabaul, they must now spread their strength between the South and Central Pacific.

The present operations are regarded as the opening of a major Allied offensive to cut sea communications between Japan and her conquests north and north-west of Australia. Some American observers predict an early invasion of New Britain by General Mac Arthur's forces to synchronise with the campaign in the Gilbert Islands. The New York Times says: "The campaign aims to pierce the shield around Truk and to clear the seas which guard this powerful base. If we can seize Rabaul and establish ourselves in the Gilbert and the Marshall groups, we will cut off the whole southern corner of Japan's defences and advance our fighting line 1000 miles toward Tokyo. The timing of the assault against the Gilberts suggests that the campaign against Rabaul is nearing the climax."

SATELBERG ASSAULT

AUSTRALIANS PUSHING QN (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 23 The Australian forces driving against the Japanese stronghold at' Satelberg, North-east New. Guinea, are within half a mile of the town. Matilda tanks and artillery are supporting the attack. On the coast, the Australians killed 50 Japanese who apparently were members of a party attempting to carry rations to the Satelberg defenders. Allied planes continue to give strong support, bombing and strafing enemy communications and installations. In all sectors, the Japanese hold thoroughly-prepared defensive positions in which they have made full tactical use of the terrain. The Australians have had to withstand two full-scale enemy counter-attacks in the last 24 hours, but these sorties are reported to have been expensive for the Japanese.

CONTACT WITH ENEMY

BOUGAINVILLE PATROLS (Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY, Nov. 23 American patrols at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville Island, are maintaining contact with the Japanese. Major-General Roy Geiger, Commander of the United States Forces on Bougainville, told war correspondents in the area that the Japanese were not making the same "do or die" resistance as had characterised their defence at Guadalcanal The close air and artillery support given to the American infantry had boon remarkable. Plains had laid bombs within 150 yds. of our advancing troops, while the artillery had put down a barrage only 50yds. ahead of our positions. As yet, there had been no evidence of Japanese overland troop movements toward Empress Augusta Bay from Buin, Kahili, and it is improbable that the bad tracks will permit traffic in heavy reinforcements. Enemy barges, however, may move slong the coast at night, although large-scale movement is seriously hampered by our air superiority. War correspondents say that American "Seabees" (construction battalions') have again accomplished wonders in stevedoring and building roads. Among the heroes of the Allied campaign on Bougainville Island are dogs which arrived with the first landing troops_and have been on patrol work ever since. The dogs are used as messengers. scouts and sentries.

BRITISH POST-WAR PLANS

LONDON, Nov. 22 The King's Speech at the opening of the new Parliamentary session is exported, for the first time since the outbreak of war, to contain important proposals for legislation regarding postwar policy. The Address-in-Reply debate may continue for several weeks and, although the war remains the supreme preoccupation, the principal items to be debated are expected to be on post-war policy, as well as 011 the progress and cynd net of the war.