Would Rather Not Have Met Jap Warships

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 160, 8 July 1943, Page 5

Would Rather Not Have Met Jap Warships

U.S. NAVY WANTED TO HAMMER SHORE POSITIONS

Received Wednesday, 10.50 p.m. NEW YORK, July 7. . “Although the United States Navy has massed strong force* in the Solomons and would welcome a showdown with Japan the commanders of the American vessels in the Kula Gulf are probably glad tbe Japanese withdrew,” says the New Yorir Herald-Tribune’s Washington correspondent. “Observers believe the American task force in the area was bent on neutralising the Jap anese shore positions at Vila and Bairoko harbour rather than taking on Japanese surface vessels. A formidable Japanese task force could have bottled up the narrow entrance to the gulf and with the shore batteries could uave rendered the position extremely difficult for the Americans. Observers also speculate that a Japanese twoman midget submarine possibly sank the destroyer Strong.” Correspondents covering the Solomons offensive are “trying to cope with the worst situation since Singapore ’ * so far as giving tne public an accurate picture of events is concerned. The restrictions are not locally imposed but are said to emanate from quarters far removed from the fighting. Joseph Driscoll, the New York Her-ald-Tribune’s correspondent in the South Pacific, wrote: * ‘ While crucial oattles are raging American and Australian correspondents arc waging tempestuous fighting on their own. against the return to the hushhush policy, .cor months the correspondents have been assembling, making contacts and studying the lay of the land as preparation to report the renewal of the Solomons campaign. Now the war has actually resumed they find themselves supercensored on matters not affecting security. ’ *