Japanese Claims Described Fantastic

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 256, 29 October 1942, Page 5

Japanese Claims Described Fantastic

(Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Wednesday, lU.3U p.m. SYDNEY, Oct 28. Tlie Japanese claims oi heavy sinkings oi United states warships tt.ro described by Mr. Forde, Army minister, as fantastic. These ciauns snouid be disregarded completely, he declared, ror oovious reasons tne Japanese Would use every slioteriuge to mislead the people in an attempt to provoao replies which would assist them to estimate the true strength of the naval forces op posed to tnem. Both fleets are still in a oattie of manoeuvre rather than one in which the opposing neets are lined up opposite each other. The American forces were putting up a game light, he told reporters. Dismissing the Japanese claim to have sunk your United States earners and one battleship as “just another fishing expedition," Colonel Knox as well as President Roosevelt declined to foreshadow the result of the battle. “The outlook in the Solomons is decidedly uncertain,*' says Admiral Yates Stirling, former chief of staff, United States fleet. “The important thing is for us to regain the offensive,” he declares. “It is not pleasant to continue on the defensive in an action of the magnitude assumed by the Solomons battle. These appear to be the facts:— Firstly, our fleet on which depends the fate of our land forces on Guadalcanar, is menaced by a superior Japanese naval force including three or more battleships. Yamamoto is able to throw the bulk of hia naval strength into the struggle and appears determined to take back the Solomons regardless of cost. Secondly, there is so far no indication that the British battleships Warspite, Royal Sovereign and Resolution will enter the Solomons actions. London announced that these ships were in the Indian Ocean and the best guess is that they are intended to force a withdrawal of Japanese ships from the Solomons to defend Rangoon and Singapore. Bad weather can be expected soon in the Solomons which will offer additional cover for enemy transports.”