WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE PACIFIC?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 32, 8 February 1943, Page 4

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE PACIFIC?

DIFFERING OPINIONS "Japan Toughest Nut Allies Have To Crack" N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 2.30 p.m. SYDNEY, this day. Sharp differences of opinion about what is' happening in the Pacific behind the obscurity of guarded official statements, continue to be evident. While many war news analysts are confident of a successful outcome of the great naval battle which is being generally anticipated, others of high reputation warn that advantages in the action will lie with the Japanese. "Americans may well pray for victory in the Solomons,"- writes the New York Sun columnist, David Lawrence, who says the United States is outnumbered in warships and planes in the South Pacific and that the enemy is fighting from bases .more favourably located than those of the Allies. Urging more positive Allied action in this theatre. Mr. Lawrence warns that the future may hold serious losses as well as uneasy days. He adds: "The cold-blooded decision to wait until after Hitler is beaten before sending reinforcements to the Pacific will stand up before public opinion only so long as the American forces are victorious." Congress Member's Views A similar warning is given by Mr. Warren G. Magnuson, Democratic member for Washington, in the House of Representatives, who says it is becoming more and more c.pparent that Japan is the toughest nut the Allies have to crack, with resources making her potentially the strongest military nation in the world. "Without constant pressure on Japan, even at the expense of the time involved in cleaning up Europe, we may find the Atlantic situation cleared but a stalemate in the Pacific," says Mr. Magnuson. "Japanese sea and air power must be drained by a continued offensive in .the Solomons and New Guinea." "Both the Americans and the Japanese have great naval forces for protecting their respective Solomons bastions." says the New York Daily News. "Aftef nine days these two forces are still feeling for each other's weaknesses." However, the humiliating Japanese air defeats, such as in Saturday's battle over Wau, New Guinea, are being accepted; in the United States as evidence that Japan already has lost one important phase of the Pacific war.- - Enemy Aeroplane Losses Discussing the Tecently reported reorganisation of the Japanese air force, the United States Office of War Information states that enemy aeroplane losses have now run into many thousands, meaning the virtual liquidation of the first-line aircraft and personnel with which Japan embarked' on the war. The losses are claimed to have impaired the moraleof enemy flyers and Washington officials say that Japanese pilots openly blame deficient training for these losses. • Brigadier-General Claire Chennault, head of the American Air Force in China,- has joined Australia in the. demand for the .employment ..of greater air-striking power against Japan. He has declared that with 500 more combat planes he "can rua. every Japanese out of China and short-circuit enemy shipping between Japan and the Solomons." ■ China, he says, has the necessary air bases already established within 300 miles of the Japanese shipping lanes," not only to the Solomons, but also to Saigon, Burma and IndoChina. .