BATTLE WIDENS

Grey River Argus, 2 November 1942, Page 5

BATTLE WIDENS

MORE THAN SOLOMONS i Sought by Enemy [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 10.10) NEW YORK, Oct. 31. Mr. Joseph. Harsch, who was until recently the Boston “Christian Science Monitor” war correspondent in Australia, says: The military developments between Japan and America have ceased to be a batue for the Solomon Islands and have become ia battle for the' South-west racific. He adds: The initiative lies in the Japanese hands, as our forces cannot break off action without exposing the America-Australia supply lines. The American occupation of Guadalcanar Island was the first challenge to tne Japanese southward infiltration, but it was not a vital challenge. Why did the Japanese decide to make a serious .issue of the Solomons, although India seems a more desirable prize than Australia and New Zealand? The answer is that Japan will not be distracted by morsels of loot from the major business of securing and defending her new won empire. Events have proved that the United States is the. only enemy who is able to challenge Japan. The Japanese objective in the Guadalcanar campaign, therefore:, is more than to wipe out any loss of face. It is the continuation’ of Japan’s creeping campaign further south-westwards, bv which the Japanese hope to choke off the greatest single danger to tneir conquests—the United States. Our only consolation is that it is unlixelv that Japan will attack any other front while the present campaign continues in the Solomons. But our forces are being pounded so heavily that the fulfilment of the suggest! ..s heard of a second front to be opened by the British in Burma might be helpful.