World Battlefronts: The First Offensive

BATTLE OF THE PACIFIC (See Cover)

For the first time since Dec. 7 a priceless intangible asset finally came into U.S. hands: the attack on the Solomon Islands had snatched the offensive from the Japanese in the Pacific.

The blow was struck up from Down Under at the exotic Melanesian land of the Solomon Islands, a fringe of volcanic peaks strung for 600 miles across the northern end of the Coral Sea, 900 miles from Australia's coast (see map). It was no mere raid. It was an attack in force. The Navy was out...