The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-01
Americans Achieve
Pacific Objectives
Continued from Page u


said, but ne would not elaborate.
The spokesman also said that
naval torpedo boats participated in
the Trobriands action, incidentally
revealing that these mosquito boats
had been in action for several
months off the north coast of New
Guinea.
japanese troops never occupied
the Trobriands or Woodlark prior
to the American landing, the
spokesman said American and Aus
tralian parties had visited the
islands on reconnaissance, however
A dispatch from an advance
south Pacific base reported that Ma
rines as we'll as U. S. Army troops
participated in the landing on jun
gle-covered Rendova Island, where
beachheads were taken.
While it is too early to determine
the full intentions of the Allied
command, the dispatch said, Halsey
declared in an interview six months
ago that while the japanese might
build an airfield at Munda the Allies
would use it. Capture of New
Georgia obviously would give the
Americans bases for further con-
quests along the island chain.
No details were available of the
fighting on New Georgia and Rem
dova Islands, which lie ITO miles
above the Russell Islands, previously
the most advanced American bases
in the Solomons, and ITO miles from
Guadalcanal.
The communique merely said:
I'm the New Georgia group, our
forces have successfully landed on
New Georgia and Rendova Islands
and are engaging the enemy de-
lenses
A Washington announcement said
that American forces landed on
tiny Rendova yesterday and it was
believed that other forces sinful
taneously swarmed ashore on New
Georgia Island, only five miles away.
If the tactics used by American
invasion troops on Attu Island in
the Aleutians were employed, the
troops probably pushed on to
beaches at one or more points east
or west of Munda, site of the bomb
battered japanese airstrip at the
southernmost trip, and then con-
verged on the base.
The apparent withholding of news
of the landing on New Georgia
Island wor upwards of "a hours in
Dictated that Americans had sue
ceeded in establishing firm beach,
heads there.
The occupation of the Trobriands
and Woodlark Island yesterday was
carried out apparently unbeknown
to the enemy" MacArthur's COM
munique said.
Americans poured ashore from
small craft at Nassau Bay before
dawn Wednesday and consolidated
enemy a spokesman said.
The Nassau Bay landing may
presage a two-pronged Allied Of
fensive against Salamaua, main
Japanese base in New Guinea, with
the Americans driving up the shore
from the South and Australian
troops, long entrenched some eight
miles inland, simultaneously strik-
ing from the southwest.
Allied naval forces covered the
landing operations sad alternate
waves of flying fortress and Liberia
tors pounded the Vunakanau and
Lakuni airdromes at Rabaul from
Tuesday night until wednesday
dawn, preventing the japanese air
force from interfering with the in
vasion of Trobriands and Woodlark.
Some % tons of high explosive,
Reorganization and incendiary
bombs were scattered throughout
the dispersal areas and several ex-
plosions and fires were observed,
one visible for 100 miles. Heavy
anti-aircraft fire and some enemy
night fighters were encountered, but
only one bomber was lost.
tack planes paved the way for the
successful Nassau Bay landing by
bombing and strafing enemy posi-
tons along the New Guinea coast
and along the Britoi river. Other
medium bombers attacked enemy
positions and supply installations
near the Salamaua airdrome and at
Bobduri.
Joint Operation
The offensive marked the first
time that Southwest Pacific forces
under Macarthur and South Pacific
forces under Admiral William F.
Halsey, Jr., have carried out joint
operation and apparently served to
squelch persistent reports that a
division of the Pacific command
would hamper Allied action.
MacArthur's communique empha-
sized that "all elements, ground ma
val and air, are being employed in
the closest synchronization." Forces
from the two areas operated under
their own commanders, it said, but
the entire movement was under the
direction of Macarthur.
The origin of the various forces
engaged was not disclosed, but it
was understood that certain units
from Halsey's command collaborat-
ed In the Trobriand and Woodlark
occupation.