Evening star., 1942-08-10
Allied Planes Hit
New Britain and
New Guinea Bases
b. the Associated Press.

VAAS &AAAASN oooOAAWSoG L eASAAAN
Command rained sledge hammer
blows on enemy bases in the New
Guinea New Britain area, it was
reported today, as air and sea
forces locked in battle with the
japanese for the mountainous
Solomon Islands and their stra-
tegic waters.
There were also unelaborated re-
ports that Allied land forces were
in action.
Of1cial reports from Allied head
quarters were meager and extremely
cautious at the end of the fourth
day of the first United Nations at
tempt to wrest the initiative from
the Japanese in the Southwest Pa
cific.
But observers minimized the ac-
curacy Of Toxic broadcast claims to
have sunk or damaged a large num-
Der Of United States and Australian
warships and transports.
Toxic Claims Disputed.
They also emphatically questioned
Toxic radio assertions that their
Solomon Island defenders had in
Cured the loss of only seven planes
and damage to two cruisers in the
first day and night.
While eagerly awaiting news of
the outcome of the struggle for
jungle-covered islands under the
equatorial sky 900 miles S.stant
from this continent, Australian
headquarters were heartened by re-
ports from advanced bases describ-
ing the vigor with which day and
night air attacks were being pressed
the japanese depend for reinforce
ments.
Rabaul in New Britain, cross
roads for Japanese forces arriving
from their inundated islands and
tanning out to the Southwest Pa
cific, Gasmata on the south coast
of New Britain, and Lac and Sala-
maua on the northeast coast of New
Guinea were bearing the full brunt
of these aerial onslaughts.
Battle Over Rabaul.
A roaring air battle took place
over Rabaul in one of these attacks
Saturday when 20 zeros rose to ward
Of big four -motored Flying Fort
resses which dropped low to blast
the airdrome with 1000 pound and
numerous 100-pound explosives.
Seven of the fighters were shot
down and the raiders believed many
of the others crashed when they at
tempted to land on the bomb-rid-
died runways.
Latest word on the continuing ac-
ton in the Solomons, while scant,
indicated the initiative remained in
the hands of the American fleet
and other Allied forces which joined
the battle Friday.
This information was relayed from
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, late yesterday
by Admiral Chester W.. Nimitz,
United States Pacific naval COM
mander. He gave no details as to
the scope of the area under attack
or the extent of the operations,
but all signs were that the drive
might be developing into major
offensive operation.
Operations Progress Favorably.
Admiral Nimitz said the attack, on
the Tulagi area in the southeast part
of the Solomons, was being pressed
by sea and air against Japanese
land-based planes and garrisons and
that "the operations are progressing
favorably," despite enemy opposition
A brief communique issued in
Washington late yesterday said
considerable enemy resistance has
been encountered and it is still too
early to announce results or to esti-
mate either our own or enemy
losses"
Offensive operations against
japanese forces in the Solomon
Islands are continuing" the com
munique said.
Australian units are participat-
ing with our forces"
The without confirma
ton from any Allied source-broad-
cast claims from Toxic that they
had sunk % Allied warships and
transports and damaged more than
six others. These enemy claims
were considered in the light of their
fanciful reports on results of the
Midway and Coral Sea battles
both stunning japanese defeats.
Amphibious Operation Hinted.
Allied sources failed to mention
the presence of any transports ir
the attacking fleet, but Admira
Nimitz' reference to enemy lano
garrisons was interpreted as in.
timating that the operation wa.
amphibious. This suggested the
possibility that land fighting NIGH
be in progress on the Solomons.
Or the Allies might have beat the
enemy to the draw to thwart an
other invasion attempt aimed a
Australia. 1t was at Tulagi, on th'
fringe of the Coral Sea, that tn,
Japanese assembled the invasion
armada subsequently smashed ir
those waters.
Today's communiQue from Gen
MacArthur's headquarters, without
mentioning the Solomon Island!
battle itself, reported yesterday at.
tacks by Allied planes on three
enemy bases in New Guinea anc
New Britain.
A spokesman said these raids
which were heavy in the past "a
hours, were aimed at tying up jap
anese aircraft and preventing them
from engaging in the action in the
Solomons.
Five Zeros Shot Down.
The Allied bombers struck both
by day and night at the key JAP
anese base at Rabaul in New Brit
ain, shooting down five enemy
Zero fighters with the loss Of one