NEXT JAP. MOVE

Grey River Argus, 11 February 1943, Page 5

NEXT JAP. MOVE

STILL LARGER FORCES At Pacific Bases SITUATION remains serious. ' Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l (Rec. 11.20) SYDNEY, Feb. 11). Military experts are asking whether the move of the Japanese troops from Guadalcanar is a feint, ratner than an admission of defeat; and, if so, where the indefatigable Japanese will strike next. So far. there is no indication that the enemy intends- to surrender the strategically-important modern Solomon islands area .though the possibility of such a move is reported to have been mentioned by the United States Navy Secretary, Colonel Knox. The purpose of the preliminary air and naval skirmishing and reconnaissance during the past'twelve days has been to discover the numbers and types of Admiral Halsey’s ships. The dispositions -of these shins are relieved to remain successfully concealed. The time and place for the joining of what may be the war’s biggest naval battle " depends . upon whether the Japanese, having studied the information which they now are trying to glean, decide that the occasion offers an acceptable risk. Il the Japanese believe that the odds are against tnem, they may withdraw inside of their defensive arc, and await a more favourable opportunity to launch a new offensive. Mr. Charles Hurd, a “New York Times” military correspondent says: The United States Navy is well prepared for b'attle.” He adds that, wnile he is ordinarily loquacious, Admiral Halsey is a man mighly capable ot keeping his own counsel ■ when he smells fight, and that the present paucity, of news is likely to continue until the outcome has been decided. “The Allied Air Force,” says Mr. Hurd, “has been doing its utmost to assist the navv to meet the Japanese Fleet on advantageous terms. The repeated bombing forays against the enemy aerodromes in the Solomons will be designed to deprive the Japanese of an umbrella of air power, under which their surface units might engage in a slugging match, suited to the heavier enemy fleet.” Mr. Hurd, declares that infliction ot heavy, losses on Admiral Halsey’s forces would imperil the Allied bases in the islands of the New Hebrides. Samoa and Fiii, and also would place the America-South Pacific-New Zea-land-Australia supply line in jeopardy. While it is beb'eved that the Japanese Fleet will be repulsed the en- ( tire Hearst press in the United States i is emphasising the gravity of the is-1 sues that are involved. The Hearst papers reiterates their; strong conviction that the United Nations’ global strategists 'should now allocate greater strength t 0 the Pa-| ciflc. There, they noint out, the Al-1 lied forces. Wy good fortune as well! as by good management, have so tai'! succeeded in beating back a more; powerful enemy. | Most commentators warn that the ( South Pacific situation is little less, serious because of the enemy evacu-; ation of Guadalcanar Island. An American Navy Department official to-day. spoke of the opposing fleets and air forces as “continuing to shape up in the South Pacific.” But no further inkling has been given the moves in this area. “The inscrutable Japanese have never been a greater enigma than thev are at present.” says an Australian military writer. While the enemy has been withdrawing xrom Guadalcanar Island, he has been busy buildinv a great new airfield at Munda, on ’the island of New Georgia, which is only 140 miles away. the Central and South Pacific bases ol the Japanese are crammed with men and equipment.”