SOLOMONS SEA CONTROLLED

Southland Times, Issue 25240, 18 December 1943, Page 5

SOLOMONS SEA CONTROLLED

Allies Neutralize Gasmata

(Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 9.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 17. In one great strike General Douglas MacArthur has punched a 200-mile bulge, in the Allied offensive arc under fiis command. He has gained close control of the Solomons Sea, effectively neutralized the important Japanese base at Gasmata (eight miles from Arawe) and made what is possibly a preliminary move towards neutralizing the main enemy strongholds at Rabaul and Kavieng. Arawe is just 260 miles from Rabaul, which in the southern Pacific ranks in importance as second only to the great enmey base at Truk. Already Rabaul, with its fine harbour, has been made untenable as a naval station by the Allied air superiority. Until now Allied fighters protecting our bombers attacking Rab- . aid have had to fly from bases more than 300 miles distant. With the airfields of Arawe this distance would be considerably reduced. The Japanese have been using Arawe both as a land and air base.

By giving the Allies command of Vitiaz Strait, separating New Britain and New Guinea, the newest Allied move will enable more effective blows against the enemy supply line to Madang and other important bases on the north-east New Guinea coast. It also cuts the south-western barge supply route to Cape Gloucester, which has been a base for Japanese fighters ranging over the Huon Peninsula. ■* OTHER BLOWS AHEAD Australian war commentators believe that the latest 200 mile drive towards Tokyo is a preliminary to other blows, for which the occupation of Arawe is a preparation. Figures released by General MacArthur’s headquarters show the thoroughness of the preparations .for the Arawe invasion. Since December Allied planes have made 46 attacks on New Britain. In these strikes nearly 1700 tons of explosives were dropped on targets in south New Britain. The waters around Arawe offer good anchorages. The coast in this area has deep indentations and there are many offshore islands. This coast receives

heavy rains from May to November, but during the north-west monsoon (December to April) much of it is sheltered and the rainfall is considerably lighter. Little is known of the far inland area of New Britain, with its high and rugged range of central mountains. Development has been confined to the coast. New Britain experiences some of the heaviest rains in the south-west Pacific, averaging annually as much as 168 inches in some localities.