Japan Builds Up Pacific Strength

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 51, 2 March 1943, Page 5

Japan Builds Up Pacific Strength

Unwelcome News Of Possible Offensive

(By Telegraph—-Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) Received Monday, 10.50 p.m. SYDNEY, March 1.

“Our reconnaissance over the past weeks reports constant and growing reinforcement in all categories of the enemy strength in the island perimeter enveloping the upper half of Australia, The enemy seems to be concentrating his main effort in his preparation on this front. Such an assemblage of major forces indicates that he is taking up a position in readiness.” This statement in General Mae Arthur’s communique to-day is the first official confirmation from South-west Pacific headquarters that the Japs have built up a threatening strength in the great 1500 mile arc of the islands stretching from the Celebes to the Northern Solomons. Significantly the warning is listed under ■ the heading of “Australia.” The spokesman at General MacArthur’s Headquarters faced a barrage of questions from war correspondents following the release of the communique but he declined to amplify the official statement. Nothing in this announcement indicates whether the massing of Jap strength is offensively or defensively designed. However, it is known that the enemy’s force is of such proportions that it could be employed offensively. Correspondents who sought clarification of the statement that the assemblage of major forces indicated that the enemy “is taking up a position in readiness,” were told that this military phrase could mean that the preparations were for either offence or defence.

Tlius the existing military situation as revealed in to-day's communique, is unchanged from that reported during February. War correspondents interpret the communique statement as implying that the Japs’ main reinforcements are being sent to the South-West Pacific and that the enemy strength has been diverted to this area from other theatres. This is thought to comprise mainly ground and air reinforcements. While a considerable number of Jap transports and some warships are still in the waters around New Britain and the Northern Solomons, the enemy naval strength is not believed to bo as great as when the Jap fleet declined the challenge of Admiral Halsey's forces a few weeks ago.

While the Jap concentration in the South-West Pacific area had been known for several weeks, it is felt in Australia that this unprecedented official headquarters' acknowledgment of the exsiting threat must bring home to Washington and London the fact that the Jap menace in the Southern Pacific is far from being lifted. Some Australian observers are now discussing the possibility of full-scale enemy attacks against New Guinea or Northern Australia. These conjectures recall last week's statement by the New York Herald-Tribune’s SouthWest Pacific war correspondent, Louis Sebring, that a new Jap southward drive was “imminent.” Sebring gave the first week in March as the likely period for the move (to coincide with the fortieth birthday of Empress Nagako) but said that the direction of the threat w r as not clear.

Major Fielding Eliot, American military expert, is among the commentators who consider that the possibility of an attack is most likely against Northern Australia where large protecting Allied naval forces would be unable to manoeuvre in the enemycontrolled waters of the Banda and Arafura Seas.

ARMY MINISTER’S WARNING Received Monday, 11.40 p.m. SYDNEY, March 1. Japan's activities to the present in this war had showed that she has struck in the most unexpected places and Australians had to bo ready for any eventuality, said the Minister of the Army, Mr. Forde, to-night. He was commenting on to-day's announcement from General Mac Arthur's Headquarters that reconnaissance revealed a growing enemy strength in the perimeter enveloping the upper half of Australia. ‘ ‘ This report bears out the warning given by Mr. Curtin and other Ministers recently, that although the Japanese havo been repulsed in the Solomons and New Guinea, every effort must be made to build up Australia’s fighting strength in readiness for the Japanese counter-attack which undoubtedly will come sooner or later. The greatest enemy of Australia’s security is complacency,” said Mr. Forde. “In some circles there is a tendency to scout the suggestion that Australia is still in danger. In other quarters there is a desire to consider as unnecessary the restrictions imposed with the view of ensuring the highest possible degree of efficiency and preparedness to meet any eventuality. Anyone in a position of responsibility in Australia to-day, realises we cannot afford to lose an hour in the complete reorganisation of the whole nation into a maximum war effort. It is a jnatter of fighting or perishing so far as Australia is concerned.”