WAR AGAINST JAPAN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23941, 7 May 1943, Page 5

WAR AGAINST JAPAN

NO MAJOR OFFENSIVE IN SIGHT ALL-OUT ATTACK LIKELY IN 1944 (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) BOSTON, May (>• Predicting the course of the war in the Pacific the semi-official American magazine “United States News says that this has gone into slow motion because of the general preoccupation of the United Nations with the European theatre. It adds: “The war m the Pacific is a strange sort of conflict which drags on month after month and where hostile fleets stay away from a showdown, and where armed might grows and waits.” The magazine said that a few months ago some leaders predicted the defeat of Japan in 1943, but that the posilion now was that tor 1943 no major sea'or land offensive against the Japanese was in sight. For early 1944 there would be probably limited offensives but no general offensive. For late 1944 and 1945 there would be an all-out attack on Japan by the Allied forces, provided Allied plans for the defeat of Germany were completed in time. But sea and air engagements were expected to continue in the Pacific with the Americans taking new islands where they could.

USE OF RUSSELL ISLANDS AMERICAN FORCES IN SOLOMONS

VALUABLE BASES FOR FIGHTERS

WASHINGTON. May 5. The United States occupation of the Russell Islands 30 miles north of Guadalcanal may be the prelude to much more important operations, according to the Washington correspondent of the Associated Press. The authorities emphasise that the Russell group could serve either offensively or defensively, but their geographical relationships to the big American base of Guadalcanar suggest that their occupation has primarily a defensive purpose. By their use raids on the main American positions can be greatly minimised, thus strengthening the main positions for future operations against the principal Japanese bases in the Bougainville area. Rear-Admiral Richmond Kelly, who led the landing expedition, states that the Russell Islands will provide valuable advanced fighter bases. They reduce by a third the distance between Guadalcanar and the New Georgia group, where the Japanese have strong air bases at Munda and Kolombangara.

During the Guadalcanar fighting the Japanese used the Russell Islands as a shuttle base for troops. Enemy ships carrying reinforcements and supplies stopped there and divided their cargoes among small boats, which slipped across to Guadalcanar under cover of darkness.

Observers state that the United States occupation of the Russell Islands in February was a precise manoeuvre carried out by well-trained, amphibious units. The movement was co-ordinated with General MacArthur’s command, which provided bombers for diversionary attacks on the enemy’s bases in the Solomons. Before the American troops landed, native scouts under British officers went ahead to reconnoitre.

A United States Navy communique states that during May 4 Warhawk and Wildcat fighters bombed and strafed Japanese positions at Vanga Vanga and Ring Cove on ‘Kolombangara Island. Avenger and Dauntless bombers, with Corsair fighter, escort, followed up with bombing and strafing. A fire was started at Vanga Vanga and smoke was observed in the Ring Cove area. All the United States aeroplanes returned. Flying Fortresses attacked Vila and Rekata Bay, starting a fire in the latter area.

AUSTRALIAN AIR FRONT NEED FOR INCREASED EQUIPMENT (Rec. 7.25 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 5. The heavy Spitfire losses in the Japanese attack on Darwin on Sunday has again focused sharp attention on the needs of the south-west Pacific. The “New York Daily Mirror” comments: “The fact that the Spitfires engaged the raiders is evidence that none of the ever-increasing flow of American supplies which the Secretary of War (Mr H. L. Stimson) announced was on its way to the Pacific, has yet arrived.

“Reference in General MacArthur’s communique to ‘Jieavy losses’ has an even more ominous ring when it is remembered that only a fortnight ago he warned that if the Allies lost control of the Australian air front no’ naval force could save Australia. It is perilously plain that contrary to official Washington’s view the' Japanese are embarking on new offensives.” The war correspondent of the United Press in the south-west Pacific says the raid bears testimony to the peril confronting northern Australia. It demonstrates that the "Japanese are capable of advancing against Australia from distant bases. under long range fighter cover which is equivalent to a longer reach in a punching match. FUTURE OF PACIFIC WAR AIR POWER AS MAIN FACTOR (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY. May 6. Air power will be the decisive factor in the south-west Pacific theatre and in the entire war against Japan. That is the opinion of the United States aircraft designer, Major Alexander de Seversky, expressed in a special broadcast to Australia. Major de Seversky added that Japan could never be beaten by surface operations from island to island. The present war had proved that no land or sea offensive could be undertaken unless control of the air was gained. When aeroplanes with a 10,000-mile range, which were now being built in the United States, were in operation it would be possible to bomb Tokyo from the American mainland. Tokyo was only 3000 miles from Alaska. ANNIVERSARY OF CORREGIDOR GENERAL MACARTHUR’S MESSAGE (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY,, May 6. To mark the anniversary of the fall of Corregidor, General MacArthur to-day issued a special message from Allied Headquarters in the south-west Pacific. The message says: “Corregidor surrendered a full year ago to-day. Intrinsically it is but a barren, war-worn rock hallowed as are so many other places by death

and disaster. Yet it symbolises within itself that priceless, deathless thing —the honour of a nation. “Until we lift our flag from its dust we stand unredeemed before mankind. Until we claim again the ghastly remnants of its gaunt garrison we can but stand humble and supplicant before Almighty God. There lies our Holy Grail.” ■ ■>.