Evening star., 1943-07-01
Rendovu Lundinq
Beqins New Offensive
Major Eliot Tells How
American Attack May Lead
To Westward Advance
By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.

By Maj. George Fielding Eliot.
The landing of American forces on
Rendova Island in the Solomons may
mark the first phase of the long-her-
aided offensive in the Southwest Pacific
area. Such an offensive naturally would
be directed first of all toward clearing
the Japanese out of their remaining
stronghold in the Solomon Islands, as
preliminary step toward further ad-
vance against New Britain.
Rendova Island lies directly south of
the larger island of New Georgia, on
which the much-bombed Japanese air
base at Munda is located. Rendova
is separated from New Georgia by
Blanche Channel, varying in width from
to 13 miles. From the northern point
of Rendova to Munda the distance is
about five miles. 1t seems probable that
the reduction of New Georgia, with
Rendova as an advance base, may be
the immediate task in hand.
Rendova itself is described by the Pa
cific Island Pilot as being almost en-
tirely mountainous and densely wood
ed. 1t is about 20 miles long from north
to south, and is roughly rectangular in
shape with a long, narrow tail-Point
Pleasant-extending outward from its
southeastern corner. It has the ad-
vantage for landing operations of deep
water close to shore and of several
black sand beaches on which landings
might be effected. A considerable part
of the shoreline is not obstructed by
barrier reefs.
Whether the japanese have a landing
strip on Rendova is not stated in the
Nays communique. What is known of
the island terrain does not suggest that
there are any very good facilities for the
construction OF landing strip, but the
japanese have managed to build such
strips in seemingly unfavorable loca-
tions elsewhere and may have done so
on Rendova
Rendova Harbor, on the northwest
coast OF the island. facing New Georgia,
provides good shelter for vessels of me-
dium draft. 1t has two entrances.
The position of Rendova and its neigh
bors. New Georgia, is favorable to con-
tinued operations to the westward once
these points are In our hands. Very like
ly our next major objective will be Bou-
gainville Island, the most important of
the Solomons Archipelago. Rendova lies
almost exactly half way between Guadal-
canal and Bougainville. 1t is about l6O
miles from the western tip of Guadal-
canal, and it is almost exactly the same
distance from BUN at the southeastern
end OF Bougainville. Thus the possess
sion OF air bases in the Rendova- New
Georgia area would enable us to give
thorough fighter cover to an operation
against Bougainville, which we could
not do from Guadalcanal nor from the
Russell Islands. which lie about 25 miles
west of Guadalcanal and probably have
served us as an advance base for the
move toward Rendova.
Rendova is also more favorably locat-
ed for air attacks against Rekata Bay.
the japanese base on Santa Isabel Is
land northeast of New Georgia. than is
Guadalcanal
In fact the possession of Rendova and
New Georgia. If these can be secured,
gives us central and dominating posi-
ton in the Solomons Islands, which will
make 1t extremely difficult for the Japa-
nese to continue to hold any of their
positions there. In order to make this
position secure, however, it will be nec-
essary to occupy not only Rendova but
New Georgia and all the adjacent is
lands known collectively as the New
Georgia group.
1t would not be at all surprising II
further communiques revealed that
simultaneous operations against other
islands OF this group are being under
taken in conjunction with the announced
landing on Rendova. 1t also would be
occasion for no surprise If Santa Isabel
or even Bougainville itself were to be
brought very quickly within the scope
OF our offensive operations. 1t seems
likely that we are in far greater strength
In ships, men and planes than we were
on the occasion Of the original landing
on Guadalcanal last August and it may
well be possible for us to strike at sew
eral places at once and smother the Jap
anese opposition by sheer weight Of
numbers
However, the foregoing is all specula-
ton and we must, Of course, await fur
ther advices before we really can tell
what is happening In the Southwest
Pacific.
(copyrisht. 1a43. New York Tribune, Incl
KeIp Goes to War