CLASH INEVITABLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 221, 18 September 1942, Page 3

CLASH INEVITABLE

SOLOMONS BATTLE Naval Showdown Soon Between U.S. And Japan Special Australian Correspondent United Press Association—Copyright SYDNEY, Sept. IS. ♦ i e C fu ril S g,e now beginning in the South Pacific may shake the world says the Sydney Sun to-day. In spite of the natural preoccupation • , Al J stra ' lan war commentators with the New Guinea land fighting, in which their own troops are so heavily engaged, it is realised here that, the great battle for the South Pacific must be for command of the sea and that the Japanese must inevitably employ full-scale naval forces to retrieve their positions in the Solomons. "Somewhere at some time the naval might of America and Japan must come into decisive conflict" continues the Sun, "and it may be that the enemy will accept the Solomons as the venue for a trial of strength. "A major fleet action which will, if fought to the end. decide the fate of the Solomons, will also decide far more than that. It will decide whether Japan or the Allied Nations control the Pacific sea routes. It will decide whether our coasts and our great, coastal cities will be bombarded and invaded or whether Japan itself will be thrust on the defensive." The resumption of heavy land fighting '.n the Owen Stanley Ranges is symptomatic of the rising tempo of the Pacific war. Combined with her renewed activity in the Solomons area, Japan has quickened her moves on and near the New Guinea mainland, with the undoubted primary object of preventing Port Moresby from being used as an eventual Allied offensive base. Moving Toward Climax Apart from the present land thrust in the Efogi area, observers point to the enemy's inland movement from Salamaua, which may eventually bring the Japanese to the south coast west of Port Moresby, and to the presence of larger numbers of enemy warships in the Rabaul area. The land fighting in New Guinea and the renewed activity in the Solomon Islands area are parts of the same struggle now moving inexorably toward a climax. The Sydney Morning Herald says it is Impossible to exaggerate the strategic importance of the TulagiGuadalcanar area, both to the enemy and the Allies. "In our hands it undoubtedly blocks the enemy's drive toward the eastern Australian coast and vital lines of supply," the paper adds.

"It is serving Australia as an operational base, besides being an almost essential starting point for any Allied offensive against Itabaul. An enemy success in his present attack would undoubtedly be followed by the irruption of his fleet into the Coral Sea and a renewed attempt, certainly in greater force, to reduce New Guinea and invade either eastern Australia or New Caledonia, or both." R.A.F. AUXILIARY DELIVERY OP AEROPLANES Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 17. The Air Transport Auxiliary celebrated its third birthday this week with this record: 100,000 planes delivered, 225,000 hours flown, 30,000.000 miles covered. The pilots have handled 117 types of aircraft, and about a quarter could fly them all. JAP. LOSSES AT KINHWA CHUNGKING, September 17. Chinese forces pursuing the Japanese: retreating to the nortnwest in Chekiang advanced from Wuyl to south-east of Kinhwa, inflicting tremendous losses on the enemy. A Tokyo message says Masayukl Tani, president of the Board of Information, has been appointed Foreign Minister. DE GAULLE RECRUITS Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, September 17. Two more prominent Frenchmen have arrived In Britain to place their services at the disposal of General De Gaulle. They are M. Charles Vallin, Deputy for Paris, and vice-president of the French Social Party (French Right Wing Party, formerly known as Croix De Feu) and M. Pierre Brossolctte, former foreign editor of the Socialist newspaper Populaire. CITIES' METAL FOR WAR Rec. 11 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 17. Most of Britain's parks have now hocn stripped of their iron railings. Collections by the end of last month totalled 300.000 tons. London contributed 120.000 tons and Lancashire and Yorkshire each yieklerl sufficient scrap metal to provide the foundation steel for two new aircraftcarriers. Glasgow has given enough for four new light cruisers. Liverpool has provided 8500 tons, which is about the weight of bombs dropped on Germany in June and July.