SOLOMONS MASTERY

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 October 1942, Page 5

SOLOMONS MASTERY

NAVAL CLASH PREPARATIONS “SPARRING FOR POSITION” SYDNEY, October 21. Further damage to the Japanese fleet in the northern Solomons and to the enemy airfield at Buin, in the south of Bougainville Island, is believed to have been caused in a raid by medium bombers of General MacArthur’s command early on Wednesday morning. The raid was on h smaller scale than the earlier attacks by Flying Fortresses. Reconnaissance has shown enemy ships beached and still smoking from the big attacks on Sunday morning. “Informed circles believe that the American and Japanese naval forces are now jockeying for position for a decisive battle in the Solomons,” says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” “Reports received in Washington indicate that the Japanese forces are probably concentrated north and west of Guadalcanal, principally round New Georgia. The enemy, could steam overnight to the battle area round Guadalcanal from the region between New Georgia and Rabau 1, the principal Japanese base for ships. This locality is too far away for steady attacks by aircraft based on Guadalcanal. It is likewise quite a distance from the American heavy bomber bases in Australia, New Caledonia, and the New Hebrides. •’ “Qualified observers express the opinion that either of two factors may have checked the Japanese on Guadalcanal after their landing near the American positions and their temporary successes in bombing and shelling the airfield. First, tne enemy may have encountered more air, land, and sea resistance than he anticipated. Second, the Japanese may not be planning to conduct an immediate land campaign, but may instead be seeking a naval victory as a prelude to the recapture ol the airfield by land attack. “The number of enemy vessels already sighted indicates the possibility that the Japanese have anticipated a sea engagement, rhe releience in to-day’s communique to enemy auxiliaries is significant, since a task force sent out to make a last attack on an island position wouid not hamper itself with auxiliaries other than a few tankers. Auxiliaries normally make for relatively ponderous fleet movements. It the Japanese are seeking a naval engagement, it is obvious that Vice-Admiral Ghoimley and Admiral Nimitz will attempt to outmanoeuvre them to conditions and the time at which such an engagement willbe held. Hence, observers are watching with keen interest the operations on Guadalcanal itself, but none omits consideration of the possibility tha what began as an island i aid ma? eventuate in a naval engagement of record proportions. \ . nf +u c The Commander-in-Chief or tne United States Navy, Admiral was cautious on the subject oft Solomons in a New. \9 lk sp<ecn. “Although America is still « two-ocean wm with a one-ocemi navy, wc- took the offensive at TubJ in Au°'ust,” he said, “and the Japanese fear and resent it. A second ocean navy is well on the way t.iis A al ’ but there will not be any miracles in this war, and no inventors to produce machines to knock out the Japanes and their planes. There is no cheap way of winning this war. He cMaea the officers returning from the Solomons assured him that all services there were “in the auch digging together.”

PROBLEM OF SUPPLIES NEW YORK, Oct.. 20. The factor of supply is increasingly engaging the attention of . commentators reviewing the. situation in the Solomons. ‘‘Ability to maintain the flow of naval and air reinforcements will decide the outcome ot the battle and the mastery ol tne South Pacific." declares the American commentator, Mr. Raymond Gram .wvmg, who sees the opposing land forces on Guadalcanal as cast in a minor role m the struggle. "It remains to be seen how much naval strength each side is able to bring into play,” he says. "We can derive satisfaction from the statement that in daylight on Saturday our naval forces bombarded the Japanese shore positions, while enemy ships shelled our positions at night. This shows that we have not lost the mastery of the seas round the islands, as some had feared—otherwise we would be doing night shelling and the enemy day shelling." Mr. Swing points out that the equality in naval losses so far should prove an eventual advantage. “But this is proving difficult,” he says, “presumably because of lack of aircraft cover of a suitable type, deficiency which must be somewhat paralysing Admiral Ghormley’s naval forces.” 1 , Most commentators concede that the number of troops on Guadalcanal is ot secondary importance to the United States, which can replace losses more rapidly than the enemy. In a dispatch from Pearl Harbour, the correspondent of the London “News Chronicle” (Mr. Patrick Maitland) also emphasises that the battle for Guadalcanal will depend on the ability of the United States Navy to get supplies through to the marines and to the air and naval forces. The commander of the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific says: “My boys will keep their toehold in the Solomons till Hell freezes if they get proper air and sea support.”

TWO U.S.A. DESTROYERS LOST (Recd. 2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 21. A Navy communique says: The destroyers Meredith and O’Brien were lost within the last few days, as the result of enemy action in the Solomons area. A report of the casualties has not been received, but it is believed that all personnel of the O’Brien and many personnel of the Meredith were rescued. Large numbers of enemy ships continue to be sighted in the Solomons area. Small units have been located and attacked in the southern Solomons. There has been little recent troop activity at Guadalcanal. Our aircraft are continuing to bomb enemy positions. DIFFICULTIES OF STRATEGY. (X.Z.r.A. Special Australian Correspondent). (Rec. 12.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 22. Difficulties confronting the American naval strategists in the Solomons are stressed by Admiral Stirling, former Chief of Staff of the United States Fleet, who says: Japan enjoys the great advantage of being able to bring any number of warships into action in the comparatively small area of these islands without jeopardising operations elsewhere. United States warships in the Solomons must operate cautiously, to avoid exposure against a far superior Japanese fleet, yet remain in close enough support of the land defenders to prevent an enemy naval bombardment of Henderson airfield, and to cripple as many Japanese ships as possible, before the main surface action begins. Admiral Stirling warns that Japanese strategy may be to use the Solomons as a feint to draw away American warships from Hawaii, and throw in a huge invasion force against Midway, ultimately using Midway as a base for the attempted capture of Hawaii. Fie adds that it is too early to forecast the results of the battle for

Guadalcanal. The relative airstrengths are still undetermined, ana there are too many other’ unknown quantities. \ . The naval situation m tne Solomons is also discussed to-day by the “Sydney Herald’s” military correspondent. He says: Although the naval balance in the Pacific as a whole has now definitely moved in Allied favour this does not necessarily mean the’Allies can bring into play in such local areas as the Solomons a striking power superior to that of the Japanese. .“The Americans have to be prepared for possible Japanese diversionary blows elsewhere, whereas the J-apanese in addition to having a degree of strategical freedom which goes with-internal lines of communication, also have the advantage of the nearby pivotal base of Truk. While Hawaii is 3000 miles from the Solomons Truk is only 1000 miles distant and the trickiness of the Micronesian waters in many ways acts as a protective screen for Japanese activities.,, Stressing the fact that everything in the Solomons depends in the last resource upon keeping open the sea routes, this correspondent says: It is im-onceivable that America should not have made powerful naval preparations for the defence of the area. Rp exoressed the opinion that many American estimates of United States strength in the Solomons have been eross’y inadequate, and points out it has been no secret that Japan has bppn moving heavy naval units south for some time. It is reported that a powerful Japanese naval and transbort fleet is still marsnahed m the protected waters around Bum anct Hi The concentration has been attacked four times during the' past week by Australia-based aircraft, as well as bv bombers from Guadalcanal, whence American aircraft now appear to be operating on a considerable scale. NEW GUINEA JAP. WITHDRAWAL (NZP.A. Special Australian Correspondent). SYDNEY, October 21. In spite of their continued tenacious resistance the Japanese in the heights ol - the Owen Stanley ranges are gradually being driven back. Thev are now occupying new positions about three miles north of Templeton’s Crossing, to which they were forced to withdraw by successful Australian outflanking and encircling attacks. In a desperate effort to retain their foothold on this last strip of high ground in the gap area the Japanese 'have brought up light aitil lerv, as well as mortars. The latest Allied gain was made after an advanced unit had succeeded in occupying a position in the rear ot the Japanese forward troops. When their costly counter-attacks failed to eliminate the threat of Allied encirclement the Japanese withdrew. Failure to hold their present positions may mean that the enemy will be forced to withdraw from an altitude of 6500 feet to Kokoda, only 1500 feet above sea level. WAR CORRESPONDENT KILLED SYDNEY, October 21. Mr. Byrcn .nton, war correspondent of “the “New York Timos.” has been killed in New Guinea. 1m.., was announced from General MacAi taur s Headouarters to-day. Mr. Dainton, who served in France in the last war and received battle decorations, was killed last Sunday, but how he met his death has not been revealed. He had occupied many important positions in American journalism.

SUPPLIES FOR U.S.A. (Recd. 1.40) CANBERRA, Oct. 22. America is sending •' special economic mission to Aus'.i alia to procuie bigger quantities of raw materials lor war industries. It is understood that the mission will propose that American business concerns shouiG invest large sums of money to help the development of Australia’s mineral resources. Some ol the commodities wanted, by America in increasing quantities arc zinc, lead and copper. America is also taking from Australia heavily increased quantities ot wool ill kinds of skins and some sugar. , .. Four or live specialists will shortly come to Australia representing the United States Board of Economic warfare. They will be permanent representatives of the Board in Australia, to assist in the supply problems of the two nations. The Board handles private as well as Government transactions, and thus differs from the Lease-lend mission, which deals exclusively in Government exchange ol supplies.