Evening star., 1942-08-10

operating.
"(3) The objective of the cur
rent operations is to expel the
japanese from the Tulagi area
and to make use of that area for
our own purposes. The enemy
have been in process of consoli-
dating their positions. in which
their purpose has been not only
to deny them to us, but to use
them as a base of offensive op-
erations against our positions
which cover the line of commu-
nications to Australia and New
Zealand.
go An initial surprise was
effected and planned landing &C
complished. The enemy has
counterattacked with rapidity
and vigor. Heavy fighting still
is in progress.
Beginning Of Offensive.
Our operating forces are en-
ploying all available communica-
tions, so that our information is in
complete, but it appears that we
have had at least one cruiser sunk
and two cruisers, two deStroyers and
one transport damaged
Likewise, information as to the
extent of damage inflicted on the
enemy is incomplete but includes a
large number of enemy planes that
have been destroyed and surface
units put out of action.
"(5) This operation in the Tulagi
area is significant in that it marks
our first assumption of the initia-
tive and of the offensive. All of the.
previous operations in the Pacific,
however successful, have been es-
sentially defensive in character.
800 1t should be understood that
the operation now under way is one
of the most complicated and diff.
ficult in warfare. Considerable
losses, such as are inherent in any
offensive operation, must be expect.
ed as the price to be paid for the
hard-won experience which is es-
sential to the attainment of far.
reaching results"
First news Of operations against
the SolomOnS came on SATURDAY.
afternoon when the Navy said that
lts forces together with other forces
had attacked enemy installations in
the southeast part of the islands and
that the attacks were continuing.
AT the same time. the Navy an
nounced that our forces had made
an attack at Kiska, in the Aleutians.
Operations Still Going On.
This brief commun;que was later
amplif1ed by statements given out
by commanders in the area. and
yesterday the Navy announced
again that operations were still con-
tinuing and that considerable enemy
resistance had been encountered. At
that time the Navy announced that
Australian units were participating
with our forces.
Principal Port of Islands.
Tulagi Harbor is the principal
port and former seat of government
Of the British Solomon Islands pro-
tectorate, and is situated about mid
way along the southern coast Of
Florida Island.
The Solomons Islands, covering an
area 600 miles long and up to 100
miles wide, lie between the New
Hebrides and the Bismarck Archi-
pelago They consist of a double
row of large mountainous islands
attaining heights of 5000 to 10000
feet. In addition there are a great
number of smaller islands and small
coral inlets. The islands form a
natural gateway or barrier to New
Guinea and Australia, which makes
their position so strategic at this
time.
Admiral Ghormley, So, is comman-
der of United States Naval Forces
in the South Pacific. He is one Of
the Navy's better-knoWn officers and
has been in his present job with
headquarters in New Zealand since
last spring. ~.
Before that Admiral Ghormley
was special observer for the Navy
in London, position to which he
was assigned after completing tour
(see sOLOMONs, Page 2-X)