BITTER DOSES FOR JAPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 245, 16 October 1943, Page 5

BITTER DOSES FOR JAPS

HEAVIER BLOWS FORECAST Reed. 8.10 p.m. Sydney, Oct. 15. Heavier blows and more successes against the Japanese have been forecast by Admiral Halsey. Reviewing the Solomons campaign, lie told war correspondents in the South Pacific area: “The Japanese have now experienced a foretaste of the bitter doses they must swallow in the days and months to come.” Another phase of the Allied campaign for the Solomons has been successfully completed by acquiring, against only token resistance, the islands of Kolombangara and Vella Lavella. The consolidation of these strategic positions in the central Solomons was attributable to two main factors—the magnificent, combat ability of the American, Now Zealand and Fijian forces, and the everincreasing reluctance of the Japanese to stand and fight along their outer defence lines. The Japanese nevertheless suffered losses out of all proportion to the efforts they made to hall the Allied offensive. “A great naval battle which will decide the fate of the United States and Japan “has been forecast by the Tokio official radio. “This will inevitably occur,” it says, “when the American Navy attempts to thrust towards the Gilbert Islands.” Predicting that this thrust would be made, Tokio radio said it would begin with an attack on Jaluit, northward of the Gilberts, on one flank, and an attack on Northern New Guinea on the other flank, with the objects of making the Gilberts a second Guadalcanar and of isolating Rabaul without directly attacking it. “Japan is anxious for such an encounter,” declares the radio. The Japanese survivors of last week’s Vila Gulf battle in the central Solomons swarmed into the rescue

boats faster than they could be handled, a naval lieutenant told war correspondents on New Georgia Island. Torpedo-boats picked up several score of Japanese clinging to floating debris. According to one correspondent, it was the largest group of Japanese naval personnel ever taken from the waters as prisoners.