INVASION PROBLEMS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 256, 28 September 1942, Page 2

INVASION PROBLEMS

JAPAN'S PACIFIC PLANS. (N Z Press Association— Copyright.) (Australian Correspondent.) (Rec. 1.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 28. While many Australian war commentators continue to express the belief that the Japanese occupation of Port Moresby would be a prelude to immediate invasion attempts against the mainland, the same view is not held by most of tho American correspondents in the South Pacific.

Mr Martin Agronsky, the , NewYork Daily Mirror correspondent, who has just returned to America from Australia, lists Port Moresby, New Caledonia, and New Zealand as the order of conquest in Japan's South Pacific strategy. Although General MacArthur has forestalled the Japanese invasion of Australia, says Mr Agronsky, the enemy believes that he can accomplish the same purpose by sitting astride the United States-Australian supply line. Japan has not lost the initiative in this theatre, warns Mr Agronsky. He says that fast cargo vessels capable of speeds up to 25 knots have been the secret of Japan's success. These vessels which have long heen prepared to do war transport work enabled Japan to move large numbers of men and to press home quickly the advantages gained by the first invaders.

Discussing the recent successes of the Allied air forces in the South Pacific, Mr Agronsky declares that they were due to "the superior quality of our fliers and tactics, hut we cannot match Japan's Zero fighter. Our fliers arc still waiting for higher altitude ships to put them on the same level as the Zeros." Although the next six months will lie crucial ones in this theatre with Japan endeavouring as her first move to dislodge the American occupants of the Lower Solomons (protecting the South Pacific supply line, menacing both Japan's naval system concentrated at Truk and her hold on other islands), American commentators here feel that the United Nations are now better prepared to withstand and counter the enemy's aggressive thrusts than at any previous time in the Pacific war. "The thin margin of sea power" in this theatre has been declared by Admiral Nimitz to lie with the United Nations. Before an invasion of New Zealand would be possible Japan would have to annihilate the American Fleet—which, with tho passago of time, becomes a fear increasingly remote. Even enemy full-scale moves against the nearer objectives of Port Moresby or New Caledonia must involve a major naval clash, which the enemy seems anxious to postpone—although such a battle is regarded hero as inevitable. ALLIED AIR SUPREMACY.

With the improved flow of reinforcements it is now grossly pessimistic to believe that the South Pacific air supremacy—won despite the admitted superior features of the Japanese Zero—can be wrested from the Allies, unless Japan is prepared to throw in aircraft without regard for losses.

Renewed Japanese efforts in this theatre—which are admitted by Tokio to be intended to check the increasing aggressiveness of the United Nations—present grave dangers to Australia and New Zealand, but they also present opportunities for coming to grips with the enemy under favourable terms. Moderate Australian opinion is a reflection of this view and it is epitomised by the Sydney Morning Herald's correspondent, who writes: "It is too soon to say that the tide has turned, but last week's developments, both in the Solomons and New Guinea, have certainly not led to any further" deterioration in the Allied position. There can be no wider strategical security until the Japanese movement south is put into reverse and until the nuclear base at Rabaul is reduced. For the present, each phase in the battle for the islands must be viewed as an element in a much wider struggle and with the most dangerous days still ahead." JAPAN AND NEXT STAGE.

A New York cable reports Japan has completed all preparations for the the "next stage of the war," said General Tojo (Prime Minister), in an address to the National Service Association at Tokio. He did not elaborate what the next stage would be. He also warned his audience that "the war has just begun and the entire nation must brace itself because it is total war and will be long.* - ■japan's new Foreign Minister (Tani) said that when the Axis concentrated its total power Britain and America would be annihilated and a new world order would be established.

"The precarious position of the United Nations explains, their attempts to strength their anti-Japa-neso bases in Australia and China and to construct a second front," Tani added. "Japan's successive victories have made the Allies concerned and impatient. They have been induced to abandon their original policy of fighting a long war and now " plan to take the offensive against Japan as soon as they build up their armaments."

Tani said that "relations with Russia in the Far Eastern territory are unchanged and tranquil."