WAGING LOSING FIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 43, 19 August 1942, Page 5

WAGING LOSING FIGHT

JAPANESE POSITION

AT A SOUTH PACIFIC PORT, August 18

The measure of success which has attended the Allied operations in the south-eastern Solomons is 'such that the Japanese are now pinned down to a losing-defensive in this area. Their position can only be regained by a naval success of the first magnitude. Already it can be said that from the strategic viewpoint the islands of Guadalcanal-, Tulagi, ,and Florida have been taken from the Japanese. • This does not mean that fighting has ceased or is immediately likely to cease, but it does mean that the Japanese can no longer use the islands for the object for which they took them—to aid their offensive against the Allied positions and supply lines in the South-west and South Pacific. GENERAL ATTACKS BEGUN. The land fighting is still bitter. There' fore, while caution must still be used in assessing the general operational outlook, a note of triumph can be struck in examining the progress of the land actions. The Americans have successfully passed the stage of winning and consolidating bridgeheads. They have opened general attacks oh various objectives and they are reducing them successfully. Everything now hinges on purely naval operations. It is probable that the fleet in general has now been able to withdraw its immediate support of the land operations and stand out in preparation for meeting a Japanese naval challenge in force.' The local enemy units at, the islands when the operations began have been sunk or have fled to the Caroline Islands.

Ultimate success, therefore, turns on the developing crucial naval battle. The Japanese may attempt a frontal assault with their main fleet, in which case disaster for them would change the whole complexion of the Pacific \var.

If they cannot break open and maintain their supply route to the southeastern Solomons they must count the islands as lost.

It is also clear that Admiral Ghormley and his South Pacific headquarters staff prepared the whole scheme. It was approved and it was helped by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz -at Pearl Harbour, and he also greatly assisted the tactical surprise and local advantages by organising a diversion in the Aleutian Islands.