SOUTH PACIFIC STRUGGLE

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23746, 18 September 1942, Page 5

SOUTH PACIFIC STRUGGLE

“Now Moving To Climax” NEW GUINEA AND SOLOMONS ( t lial Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) fj '2 a.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 17. Wface struggle now beginning in the S&r a?. Pacific may shake the world,” 'jaWthe Sydney “Sun” in a leading 'article to-day. In spite of the natural 'preoccupation of Australian war commentators with the New Guinea land ■ fighting, it is realised here that the great battle for the South Pacific must be for the 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 weight of America and Japan must come to a decisive conflict,” continues the “Sun," “and it may be that the enemy will accept the Solomons as the venue for a trial of strength and the Joining of a main fleet action which will, if fought to an end, decide the late of the Solomons. It will also decide far more than that. It will decide whether Japan or the Allied nations shall 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 to the defensive.” The resumption of heavy fighting in 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 being used as an eventual Allied offensive base. Move from Salamaua Apjart 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 a larger number of enemy warships in the Rabaul area. The land fighting in New Guinea and the renewed activity in the Solomon Islands artparts of the same struggle which is how moving inexorably towards a climax. The “Sydney Morning Herald” says: •t is impossible to exaggerate the strategic importance of the Tulagi and Guadalcanar area, both to the enemy and to the Allies. In our hands it undoubtedly blocks the enemy’s, drive towards the eastern Australian coast and the vital lines of supply serving Australia as an operational base, besides oelng an almost essential starting point for any Allied offensive against Rabaul. ‘For the enemy, success in his present attack would undoubtedly be followed by an irruption of his fleet into Coral Sea and a renewed attempt, certainly in greater force, to reduce New Guinea and invade either eastern Australia, New Caledon'or both.” Japanese Strategy An Ankara broadcast has quoted German experts who define Japan’s operational plan as to got Port Moresby at any cost and hold New Guinea against a possible attack launched from Australia; to defend Burma against a similar attack from India; to cut the remaining supply route to China; and to nelp Germany to knock out Russia. The invasion of Australia does not figure in tnis assessment of Japanese strategy. Reports from the Indian Ocean say that Britain’s Eastern Fleet, commanded by Sir James Somerville, is for a decisive clash with ■ieP’Mfc'ji order to prepare the way lor .rjfAitled counter-invasion of Burma, ims would involve the capture of Rangoon as a base, since communica“ons with Burma through Assam are attenuated, difficult, and slow. Thus riJ? Possibility of Japan’s latest Pacific .°nve being met by a counter-thrust a* 1 - Indian Ocean is presented. American experts confirm Australian opinions that whatever her broader F,“ ns . may be Japan’s main preoccupa«on is a j. present with the South Paciuf neither American nor Aus“anan observers show any despondabout the likely outcome of the * naval showdown which is certain to be fought in a battle area of American choosing and under the pro.Z,[ on of American land-basqd aircraft. -Wepßlrs at Pearl Harbour.—Admiral nester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-J-nief of the United States Pacific Fleet, a 2, a< *dress before presenting medals It 0 , ers and men of the Pacific Fleet aboard a warship at Pearl Harbour, revealed that the damage caused on December 7 at Pearl Harbour had been repaired far beyond expectations.— New York, September 16.