GUADALCANAR FRONT

Grey River Argus, 26 November 1942, Page 5

GUADALCANAR FRONT

naval operations Enemy’s Determination [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] SYDNEY, November 25. The Tokio report of a fresh naval battle in the Solomons is still unconfirmed from Allied sources. If tne Tokio, report is correct, a new trial ol strength has come much earlier than observers believed possible. Following their heavy losses earlier tins month, the Japanese were not expected to be in a position to seek another =ea engagement for several weeks. WASHINGTON, November 24. A Navy communique says that during Sunday night United States aircraft attacked enemy oositions on Guadalcanar Island. During Monday the United States forces continued limited advances west of Matanikau ‘River. Japanese troops were active in the Minnbulo and Unner Matanikau River regions. “The United States Navy still faces a grim struggle for supremacy in the Pacific,” declares the New York “Sun” writer, David Lawrence. “Despite optimistic inferences, th e United States is not yet assured of victory. The Japanese have a substantial naw left. It can impede our advance in the Solomons and is still capable of- serious attack on Midway and Hawaii. Few will know until rhe war is over what risks were involved in dispersing our ships in the Atlantic and Pacific, and how badlv needed is that two ocean naw which will not be ready before 1944-45.” The United States Secretary, Lol. i Knox, said it was unlikely that the Japanese would now be able to get reinforcements ashore at Guadalcanar Island:. This was due to the United States forces maintaining dav and night rigid patrols around the island. Asked if the Japanese would not be able to effect landings from small craft during the night, Colonel Knox said: “It is possible but impiobable. He added that the Solomons operations were progressing satisfactorily. United States forces held a firm grip on Guadalcanar, and were widening their area of control to about, seven to nine miles west of Henderson Airfield From east to west the distance between the United States lines was over 16 miles. They controlled only three oar cent, of the total area of the island. Th P United States western lines were less than 20 miles from tlie caoe entrance at the tip of the island where the Japanese earlier landed their largest concentrations Asked “Do you think wo can wipe out the Japs, on Guadalcanar?” cot Knox replied: “That is our objective. Reviewing the Pacific situation, Joseph Harsch, in the “Christian Science Monitor” says: If the Navy hadn’t gone to the Solomons *1 would have had to employ the same or a greater force at New Guinea, m order to convov General MacArtnurs troops around the north-eastern coast, Under the immediate threat of Japanese and air sea forces based on Rabaul. Perhaps concentrating everything on thp. New Guinea campaign might have been better, but it would have' raised the problem of unified command sooner. The Navy’s desire to avoid a unified command in the MacArthur area may have been a contributory reason for the decision to attack' Rabaul simultaneously from two directions, instead of from New Guinea only. General MacArthur’s task in New Guinea was certai.'nly eased \by the Solomons <advance, but the fact remains that Rabaul is the obvious objective of a coordinated campaign, and the Navy is not yet as near Rabaul as was preferably hoped. The campaign remains controversial, as also does the fact that it is still an operation with two separated commands, .instead of a unified operation under a unified command.

Japanese Navy CONCENTRATED TOWARDS SOLOMONS FRESH CLASH ANTICIPATED (Rec. 8.30) NEW YORK, Nov. 24. The “New York Times” Pearl Harbour correspondent states: Admiral Nimitz is certain that there are no large naval clashes going on at present. Observers here, however, will not be surprised if one develops, because it can be deducted from the recent despatches, that the Japanese RHVcil power is now concentrated between the J’apanese Empire and Solomon Island waters. JAPAN’S FIRST AIM, TO RECAPTURE GUADALCANAR. LONDON, November 24. The “Daily Express” New York correspondent says: Hitler is prodaing the unwilling Jananese to attack Liberia or Indicj., in the hope of improving his position,. Japan shows no inclination to move. First, this is because the Japanese are not true members of the Axis. They are in the war for themselves, and are not interested in taking, inordinate risks at an inopportune time. Secondly, because the vast losses which the Japanese High Command has shown itself willing tc take i n the efforts to recapture Guaaalcanar Drove that the Americans chose it wisely for their first Pacific, offensive. Reports received at Washington when the United States seized control of Guadalcanar and the Solomons indicated that the Japanese were preparing for an imminent invasion of Siberia. These nreparations were not dropped until it became plain to Japan that the United States intended to fight for the Solomons. The United States Pacific commanders forced the Japanese on the defensive, as Eisenhower, Montgomery and Timoshenko have forced the Germans. The Japanese had to defend their other island holdings and expend men, ships and ’planes, which might have been used against Russia or India. To win back Guadalcanar, the United' States has done more than win a local victory in the Solomons. The v have struck a blow against Hitler. ——- U.S.A. General’s Courage WHEN JAPS. SET SHIP AFIRE. [Special to N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec 9.45.) SYDNEY, Nov. 25. Japanese Zero ’planes set fire to a small vessel carrying supplies to the United States troops, who are no,w attacking Buna in North Papua. When tb;is occurred., an American General, aboard the vessel declined to take a place in a small lifeboat that was about to- push off for shore. With the/.Vessel ablaze the General insisted that his place should be taken by his aide, who had been shot anff arms. The General even reiused to hang on to the back of the lifeboat, for fear that it might upset. F?e swam ashore, and then assisted to carry the wounded to shelter. “It made a great impression on us.” declared a soldier eve-witness,”' and the General was' greeted with cheers when he came ashore.