ATTACK EXTENDING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1942, Page 3

ATTACK EXTENDING

FROM GUADALCANAR BASE OPERATIONS OF AMERICAN ’ MARINES. THREAT TO GIZO ISLAND. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) WASHINGTON, September 10. Marines on Guadalcanar Island continue to attack detachments of Japanese who fled into the jungle on August 7 and who have possibly been reinforced by a few troops which have since landed under the cover of darkness, states a Navy Department communique. It adds that a patrol plane on September 5 shot down a large Japanese flying-boat north-east of the Solomons. Our aircraft on September 6 bombed and strafed enemy installations on Gizo Island, in the New Georgia group, encountering no resistance. The Associated Press of America says that naval circles are of the opinion that the American attack on Gizo Island marks the start of offensive actions against the Japanese. They explain that the American forces on Guadalcanar have hitherto been preoccupied with defensive operations, presumably with developing a bomber base on the Guadalcanar airfield. The attack on Gizo Island indicates that the offensive resources of the new Guadalcanar base have been brought into play, and therefore the Japanese must henceforth expect violent air blows against their remaining strongholds in the Solomons. Gizo is a heavily-wooded island, four by six miles in area, near Buka, the main Japanese base in the Solomons.