ISLAND CAMPAIGN PROSPECTS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 95, 16 January 1943, Page 5

ISLAND CAMPAIGN PROSPECTS

Rabaul As Final Objective CONQUEST OF JAPAN FROM ASIA (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received January 15, 9.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 15. “A repetition of such campaigns of extermination as a means of defeating Japan presents prospects that can scarcely be' contemplated.” “The . Times,” London, makes this comment in editorial consideration of the war problems in the Pacific as fevealed in the battle of Papua. The fanaticism of the enemy who, in every surrounded and untenable position fights till the last man is killed, is being viewed increasingly as an insuperable obstacle to all-out prosecution of an island-hopping strategy of war against Japan, and the difficulties involved in defeating Japan are occupying growing attention from the world’s war commentators.

“The Times” supports the Australian belief that the island warfare should be continued till the Japanese hold on the menacing harbours and airfields is loosened sufficiently to secure the United States supply route in the South Pacific, but it declares that the grand strategical decision of the war must be sought by striking direct blows nt the core of the enemy’s power—Japan itself. The goal might be reached without piecemeal destruction of the Japanese island garrisons, which could be by-passed by the use of overwhelming sea power. This, however, requires the command of naval bases which are much nearer than any of those at present in Allied hands. Big Battle Ahead. Parallel views are expressed in an editorial today by the “Sydney Morning Herald,” ■which urges the prosecution of the island warfare till the naval base of Rabaul is taken. “The Japanese, though they are gathering powerful forces in the South Pacific, may be loath to fight major sea actions,” says the paper, “but Rabaul and ' the command of the adjacent waters are vital to them. ■ If Rabaul were lost their outer defensive ring would have been definitely pierced and their great central Pacific base, Truk, would be exposed to bombardment from the air.

The struggles in Papua and on Guadalcanal are seen as the forerunners of great sea, air and land battles which will decide the mastery of the South Pacific, and the “Herald” gives warning that a tremendous fight is involved before Rabaul can be taken. “Australians have been brought to the sobering realization of what is involved in driving the Japanese from the islands into which they swarmed so easily last year,” says the paper. “New Guinea itself is a huge island, and no more than a beginning has been made with the task of evicting.the Japanese. Though it is officially given out that only ‘fragmentary’ reinforcements were got ashore from the recent convay at Lae, it is safest to assume from the magnitude of the enemy enterprise that the garrison there lias been strengthened by some thousands ot men. And Lae is only one of the Japanese strongholds. While a new offensive move by the. enemy cannot be ruled out, the Japanese are now probably mainly concerned with covering the approaches to Rabaul by strengthening their positions in New Guinea and the northern Solomons.”

A London “Times” correspondent at the Allied headquarters in India emphasizes that nil of Japan’s moves must be governed by the long-term consideration of husbanding her shipping resources. He