DECISION NEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 106, 31 October 1942, Page 7

DECISION NEAR

ISLAND HOLD IN PERIL

SAP NAVAL STRENGTH FORMIDABLE

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Special Australian Correspondent.) (Rec. 9 a.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 30.

At Pearl Harbour war correspondents have been told that "the battle for the Solomons-—where the outnumbered and undersupplied Americans are fighting enemy forces which are believed to include all the Japanese warships not essential for the protection of home waters —is nearing a decisive stage."

They were also told that the magnitude of the enemy thrust puts the whole of the Solomons in real and immediate peril.

SEA FORCES MOBILISED,

Another Pearl Harbour correspondent has quoted United States Fleet Headquarters as believing the enemy is mobilising big sea forces on the route between Pearl Harbour and Australia. United States Navy pilots said that most of the fighting against the Japanese aircraft over Guadalcanal had been done by Grumman Wildcats which •were primarily intended for carriers. The views of these navy pilots are not regarded as reassuring by the "New York Sun's" Washington correspondent, Glen Perry, who says that "analysis of Washington's thinking on the probable outcome of the Solomons fighting indicates a belief in the probability of our side being forced to withdraw and in only a possibility of our being alble to stay.

FOLLOWED COMMAND CHANGE

"This feeling began to grow when it became known that Vice-Admiral Ghormley had been superseded. The fact that the change was made in the middle of the battle is sufficient reason for thinking that the fight was not going well. If the Americans can stay an the Solomons they can do Japan great harm, but Washington knows how big that 'if is—and is waiting ■with "the fingers of one hand crossed and the other hand firmly grasping a rabbit's foot." A-happier note is sounded by Raymond Gram Swing, war news analyst, •who says that in the air and naval actions on- Monday .and Tuesday the enemy - suffered setbacks which "at least took the smile from the voice on Tokio radio." A significant lessening of the confidence of the Tokio Press was also noted on Wednesday. On Tuesday, Tokio was boasting of the destruction of the American fleet, but on Wednesday the Japanese were admitting that a costly battle was still going on.