Evening star., 1943-02-05
BUN and RubuuI Are
Among Targets Hit
BY American Flyers
By the Associated Press.

Guadalcanal Island came in de-
layed dispatches from the South
Seas battlefront today as official
secrecy continued to shroud de-
velopmentS in an expected
showdown battle between the
American and Japanese fleets.
In Washington, the Navy reported
"recurrent engagements by oppos-
Ing naval and air forces in the Solo
mon Islands theater, but declared
that Toxic radio reports of big
naval fight already in progress were
false.
Amid the tense hiatus, censor
passed dispatches from Guadalcanal
dated February declared:
Aerial observers reported tonight
that a large force of Jap warships
headed for Guadalcanal. Some OBJ
servers think the Japs hope to bols-
ter their tottering Guadalcanal
ground forces with reinforcements. +"
30 to 40 Jap Ships Sighted.
The dispatch quoted Flight Leader
Maj. Marco Whitaker of Toxana, KY,
ss saying he observed between 80
and 40 Japanese ships, many Of them
warships, in Shorthand Harbor $50
miles north of Guadalcanal.
A Toxic broadcast previously had
asserted, without confirmation, that
Japanese forces attacked American
warships off Rennell Island 100
miles south of Guadalcanal on Feb
ruary l, the date of the Guadalcanal
dispatch
There was no immediate indica-
ton. either from Washington Oh
Guadalcanal itself, that the Japa-
nese had been able to land re-
Inducements on the prize island,
although latest advices said Ameri-
can planes strafed enemy barges of
Guadalcanal Tuesday.
The Navy said, however, that
United States Army troops still
were pressing forward against jap
anese positions on the island. killing
80 enemy troops and driving the in
vaders from positions west of the
Bonegi River.
The Navy said details Of clashes
at sea would not be disclosed "as
long as such information might
jeopardize the safety Of our forces"
Speculation Over Offensive.
While authoritative comment re-
mained almost negligible, the rising
tempo of Allied aerial blows touched
of speculation that a United Ma
tions offensive might be imminent
against japanese strongholds in the
Central and Northern Solomons.
For days past Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur's headquarters has reported
incessant and increasingly violent
Allied air attacks on enemy bases
stretching across hundreds of miles
OF the South Seas archipelago and
adjoining islands.
These could serve either as soft
ening up" assaults paving the way
for an Allied sea-borne offensive or
as defensive smashes to cripple the
sources of enemy supply.
In toda-'s communiQue. Gen. Mac
Arthur reported that United Nations
airmen unloaded bombs for three
solid hours on the japanese air
drome at BUN, 300 miles northwest
of Guadalcanal, and spread destruc-
ton from one end of New Britain
Island to the other.
Japan's main feeder base for both
the New Guinea and Solomon cam
paiens is located at Rabaul, New
Britain, which was heavily bombed.
Results were not observed, however.
Other Attacks Pressed.
In addition to the raids on BUM
and Rabaul, aerial attacks were
pressed home against enemy bases
at Salamaua, in Northeastern New
Guinea, and on the Aroe Islands
to the west, the Macarthur commu-
nique said.
At the same time Allied ground
patrols continued to maintain pres
sure on Japanese forces southwest
of Salamaua, the bulletin reported,
killing 88 of the enemy in offensive
5orays near Wau.
Fifteen enemy fighters pounced on
an Allied reconnaissance plane which
secuted the area after the Rabaul
raid, but the craft shot down two OF
the attackers, beat off the remainder
and returned safely, the communique
said.
Other targets of Allied planes
which swept over New Britain were
Wide Bay, south Of Rabaul where
an enemy warship was bombed +;
Gasmata. on the southern shore
where heavy bombers twice attacked
the airdrome, starting dense fires;
and Cape Gloucester airfield, on the
western tip of the island, which was
raided twice.
Flying Fortresses scored three hits
on a large cargo vessel in Short
land Harbor
In the Aroe Islands medium
bombers destroyed barracks and
other buildings, strafed lugger in
the harbor, shot down one intercept
Ing enemy seaplane and shot up an
other on the water, the communiQue
said.
Severe Air Blows
In the February / dispatch from
Guadalcanal which told of the
sighting of the japanese fleet. il
was reported that severe air blows
were exchanged by the American
and japanese forces.
Guadalcanal underwent two all
raids Monday and the American.
struck at shipping in Shorthand
harbor and Vella Gulf and at The
airport at Munda Point.
The Americans shot down Il
Zeros, two divebombers, three twin
engined bombers and possibly G
fourth at Guadalcanal. Two Grum.
man fighters were lost but one pilot
was saved and the other parachuteo
down in the vicinity of Savo Island
In the Monday fighting over Bou.
gainville and Munda Point and Vells
Gulf the Americans shot down five
Zeros, probably sank a large cargo
ship, damaged two more cargo
vessels, Jap destroyer, and g
corvette.