PRICE OF SUCCESS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 199, 24 August 1942, Page 3

PRICE OF SUCCESS

SOLOMONS THEATRE

Great Fleet-Air Engagement

Forecast

Special Australian Correspondent

SYDNEY, August 23.

The cost of the Allied successes in the Solomons has been high and is likely to be a continuing one. This warning is sounded by obser\eis here, who also foresee the possibility that the expedition may soon be followed by a great fleet-air engagement profoundly affecting the Pacific war. . _ Australian commentators view the newest raid on enemy-occupied Makin Island as evidence that there will be no let up in America's Pacific offensive. The Washington columnist, Drew Pearson, says some optimistic naval facts lie behind the Solomons battle. Japan has suffered severe cruiser losses, her strength having been cut in half, and perhaps even further depleted. She has also lost about half her aircraft-carriers. On the American side, repairs to ships sunk or damaged in Pearl Harbour on December 7 have been miraculously swift.

Less palatable deductions as to Japanese strength have been drawn by Alexander Kirafly, author and an expert on Far Eastern affairs, who believes Japan is prepared for a series of "mock defeats'' in the Pacific to delude the United Nations. In an article in the magazine Asia, he says Japan's heavy losses in the Coral Sea, Midway, the Aleutians and islands off Australia may be designed to create an illusion of weakness in the minds of the Allies. Strategic Victories Japan's failure to "conquer" China he describes as the first example of her effort to make the United Nations believe she is weak. "To American eyes the Midway battle was a decisive victory, because the Japanese were driven away from that strategically important island and the enemy losses were far greater than those of the Americans, but Japan probably considers such conflicts in the light of the whole conflict. If it should be found they tie down American battle squadrons in Hawaiian and East Australian waters they might even set down such actions as Midway as strategic victories."

Kirafly adds that while Australia and "New Zealand are unquestionably "ultimate Japanese objectives," their conquest may not take precedence over India. "More than 100 airfields have sprung into existence in Australia. These are undoubtedly well stocked with planes, but few, if any, of these planes could interfere with enemy movements in the northern basin of the Indian Ocean. If the Japanese airfields between Timor and New Guinea were not heavily supplied with planes, the Allies _ would become suspicious. Accordingly, the Japanese have kept them well supplied."

RABAUL-LAE RAIDS

Rec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, August 23 Allied Headquarters in Australia report that Rabaul and Lae were hit yesterday by bombers which concentrated on the airfields. In the Rabaul raid, which took place at night, eight tons of bombs were dropped on the runways and hangars, causing fires. The bombers were not intercepted and returned safely.

Bombs were dropped among grounded aircraft in the dispersal areas at Lae, but the rp c, „;]*s were not observed.