JAPANESE REPULSED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 206, 1 September 1942, Page 2

JAPANESE REPULSED

THE Japanese landing at Milne Bay led to some pessimistic utterances in Australia, and its repulse is now the occasion of rejoicing. Events speedily proved the pessimism unwarranted; and other events may prove that the rejoicing, too, is overdone. The one constant and so far dominating factor in these landings is Japanese sea power. It enables them, as recently at Buna and Gona and now at Milne Bay, to choose their point of attack, to transport, supply and reinforce landed troops, and to prevent the defenders from being reinforced. It also enables them, in case of reverse, to remove their troops, or the remnant of them, to fight again, in another place. Because of this power, the situation of New Guinea has been precarious; it is so still, and it will remain so until Allied naval strength can be built up, or until the Japanese, through preoccupations forced cn them elsewhere, are obliged to weaken their own naval force in New Guinea waters. Nothing in these considerations belittles the worth of the Australians' achievement. The very fact that the Japanese might have made their landing elsewhere is a tribute to the correctness of the anticipation (presumablv General Mac Arthur's) which caused the defending force at Milne Bav to be made strong enough to achieve its purpose. The fact that the invaders landed tanks only to have them captured indicates that the defending force was resourceful, determined and efficient. The Australians have got a little of tneir own back, and in a manner which will be a splendid encouragement to all British forces whenever and wherever they meet the Japanese in the x future.