POSITION IN PACIFIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 101, 30 April 1943, Page 5

POSITION IN PACIFIC

ENEMY FORGES DECLINE (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 12.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 29. "The position in the Southern Pacific has improved somewhat," stated the Secretary of War, Mr. ;H. L. Stimson, when reviewing the war situation. "During the past fortnight the number of enemy planes and surface vessels in the area appears to have declined, but the strong possibility of a Japanese offensive still remains." Therefore, Mr. Stimson said, General Mac Arthur was being sent all possible reinforcements, particularly aircraft. The pattern of recent Japanese air assaults in the Southern Pacific has disclosed a new enemy defensive system, writes a "Christian Science Monitor" correspondent, who says that the Japanese have built up portable air fleets similar to the five air fleet system which the Luftwaffe employs around the European periphery. "The Japanese have long maintained a large unit in southern Asia, a small one in central China, a' larger one on the Manchuria-Siberia frontier, and a medium-sized concentration in the Aleutians, says the correspondent. Their new fifth air fleet, now based on Rabaul, in New Britain, is comparable to Kesselring's Luftwaffe fleet based on southern Italy. ~ , This fifth fleet is entrusted with the defence of the Japanese southern flank, using Rabaul as the keystone of the entire south-eastern arch. It is strong enough to meet any likely emergency. COULD MOVE SOUTH. With the bulk of its repair, maintenance, and replacement installations concentrated at Rabaul this portable air fleet is able to move down through the Solomons using bases at Buka, Faisi, Ballale, Kieta, Bum, Vila. Munda. and Rekata Bay. A . Discussing the numerous American bombings of the, Japanese airfield at Munda the correspondent quotes the testimony of many pilots • that. it is virtually impossible to destroy, an enemy airstrip completely by air attacks. Thus, until Rabaul is knocked out the network of Japanese airstrips will remain practically intact unless it is actually occupied.