ENEMY BASES RAIDED

Southland Times, Issue 24841, 5 September 1942, Page 5

ENEMY BASES RAIDED

AIR ACTIVITY IN SOLOMONS (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 4. The Allied Air Force in the South-west Pacific on Thursday extended its raids against Japanese bases in the Northern Solomons. Targets at Buka, Bougainville and Faisi were all attacked following the previous day’s heavy raids on Buka. Enemy air-fields were our main objectives, the raids being no doubt designed to hamper renewed Japanese operations against the American-occupied islands in the South-east Solomons. In a dawn raid on Buka an Allied medium bomber unit scored four direct hits on aerodrome fuel dumps, starting fires. At Kieta enemy installations on landing grounds were attacked with unknown results. An Allied offensive reconnaissance unit strafed an enemy flying-boat at Faisi Harbour. Kieta is the administrative capital of Bougainville Island, one of the largest of the Solomons group. Buka, which lies almost directly north of Faisi to the south of Kieta, is an important base both for land-based and sea aircraft, while Faisi is a seaplane base. Buka, the chief enemy base in the Northern Solomons, is strongly fortified. Although Japanese aircraft have been active against positions in the Ameri-can-occupied islands of the group their offensive lull in areas under General MacArthur’s command continues. No enemy attempts to intercept raiding Allied aircraft have been reported. In the New Guinea area Allied bombers struck enemy installations at Salamaua, while in the Kokoda area our fighters again bombed and strafed enemy lines of Communication. The only Allied ground activity on Thursday was a continuation of guerrilla and mop- • ping up operations at Milne Bay. GREAT BATTLES EXPECTED Commentators here continue to emphasize that fiercer fighting both in New Guinea and the Solomons must be expected. Referring to the Japanese land push towards Port Moresby from Kokoda The Sydney Morning Herald says: “It is hard to believe that the enemy will not sooner or later attempt to support his land approach by naval action in force from one side or both sides of the sea passage between Australia and New Guinea.” The paper emphasizes “the ant-like pertinacity of the Japanese in penetrating difficult country” and adds ‘Our air superiority over New Guinea has not shaken their hold on the BunaKokoda supply route, although it has delayed enemy progress.” The Australian opinion that the South Pacific is on the eve of major battles is supported from the United States. The New York Times, commenting on the New Guinea fighting says that Tokyo intended to offset the Allies’ Solomons victory by a full scale descent on Port Moresby, but their efforts were scotched when they fell into General MacArthur’s trap at Milne Bay. The paper stresses the fact that time marches on the Allies’ side in the South Seas and that if Japan is to have any hope of success she must strike again soon. Other American commentators believe that Japan may be embarrassed in the South Pacific by the pledge Tokyo is reported to have given Hitler to move against Siberia when the Axis reaches the Volga. The New York Herald-Tribune says that rumours are insistent that Japan will attack Russia before September 19th at the latest. “Such an attack would carry a great menace and also a great opportunity if America immediately throws air and Bea power into Vladivostock from where we could really hit Japan,” says the paper. “We were caught unprepared at Pearl Harbour and the Philippines, but if war breaks out in Siberia there will be no excuse for unpreparedness.” The paper adds that the United Nations would also have an improved opportunity of broadening their South Pacific offensive.