EXPECTED DECISIVE BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 7

EXPECTED DECISIVE BATTLE

American Comment (Received October 17, 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, October 17. “The logic of the situation indicates that one of the decisive battles of the Pacific war is under way in the western Pacific, as the Japanese claim, ’ says the "New York Times” in an editorial. “The odds seem to favour the Japanese, since American carriers went well within range of land-based airpower. l<prtbcrmore, the Japanese home fleet has apparently steamed out with full fuel tanks at a time, American carriers and escorts needed oil, which entails refuelling at sea at relatively low speeds. The outcome of the engagement may well depend on the size of Admiral Halsey’s reserves and whether the enemy fleet ean be tempted to steam outside the radius ot the land-based air support. "Pacific headquarters may be unable to give a full and objective report for several days. Meanwhile. Tokio’s propaganda reports of American losses should be taken with a grain of salt.”