Great Naval Battle Will Soon Be Fought

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 29, 4 February 1943, Page 5

Great Naval Battle Will Soon Be Fought

AMERICAN PREDICTION Rennell Island Action Was On Small Scale (New Zealand Press Association.—Copyright.—Rec. noon.) WASHINGTON, February 3. Naval observers are confident that United States warships and aircraft can defeat the great Japanese air and sea drive in the Solomons. They predict that the greatest naval battle of the war will soon be fought in the area, but the Secretary for the Navy, Colonel Knox, states that operations have not yet developed beyond a series of skirmishes. "The Japanese Navy is conducting a reconnaissance in force," declared Colonel Knox. "A long, tough, hard fight is ahead of us." The new enemy efforts apparently have two main objectives, according to the Associated Press Washington correspondent. The first is to reinforce and supply their shattered forces at Guadalcanar, now numbering only 3000. Colonel Knox says that substantially all organised enemy resistance on the island has been cleaned up. The second Japanese purpose, it is suggested, is to break American sea power in the entire South Pacific area. While American naval forces in the Solomons area are believed to be considerable, the Japanese are understood to be employing two or three or more aircraft carriers. Strengthened American Forces Expecting New Drive The potential danger of the present Japanese moves is generally acknowledged to be great, but strengthened American forces have been expecting the new enemy drive. The action near Rennell Island, 100 miles south of Guadalcanar, during last week-end is not considered to have been on anything like the scale suggested by the Japanese claims. The enemy air strength employed in this action was probably carrierbased, and' it is thought unlikely that the enemy would risk major carrier strength so far south. A London broadcast commentator, however, has suggested that the Japanese might be building an aerodrome on Rennell Island with the object of neutralising the Henderson airfield on Guadalcanar, which the American air forces are using as an offensive base. ' The Japanese are thought to have realised the futility of small-scale attacks against American land positions and naval strength. Navy officials declare that the outcome of the pending action is likely to be of the highest importance in determining the future strategy of the Pacific war.