Were Intent On Invading Australia

Northern Advocate, 8 March 1943, Page 4

Were Intent On Invading Australia

(Rcc. 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day

“Estimated in terms of relative losses, the battle of the Bismarck Sea was less a battle than a massacre,” declares the “Sydney Morning Herald,” reviewing editoriallv details of the fighting revealed in General McArthur’s latest communique.

Observers here have been particularly surprised at the number of Japanese fighters, 150. providing cover for the convoy.

This imposing aerial screen was literally shot to pieces by Allied aircraft. Of 102 enemy planes shot out of action at least 63 were destroyed for certain.

For an air battle of such magnitude Allied air losses of four planes was amazingly small. e

Ahead in Quality

“Qualitatively air command has passed to the Allies in the southern Pacific,” adds the “Sydney Herald." “The Japanese have no answer to our massive, hard hitting, skilfully handled, land-based aircraft.

“Inferiority in this weapon, preeminently the great new weapon oi this war. will doom them to inferiority at sea. as well as wherever our longrange bombers and fighters can reach.” The paper goes on to emphasise that quantity in aircraft is no less important than finality, and declares the southern Pacific will need many more planes if early and full advantage is to be taken of the staggering reverse just inflicted on Japan.” “Japan was going ahead with plans to invade Australia when her 22 ships’ convoy mot disaster in the Bismai ck Sea,” declares Admiral Yates Stirling, former Chief of United States Naval Staff. „ . “The Allied victory has greatly delayed Japan’s timetable and possibly stalled it for ever.” Admiral Stirling gives several reasons for his belief that Japan was developing plans for invasion of Australia.

These include: (1) For the first time, Japan appears to have advanced as far as she can elsewhere. Her foothold in the Aleutians is weakening, the British have the initiative in Burma, while Chinese fronts are holding. (2) She has available millions of troops and over 7,500.000 tons of shipping (as much as the United Nations used in invading Africa) to throw into the effort. (3) She has built a powerful ring of air bases in the islands north of Australia despite frequent attacks by General MacArthur's bombing and strafing planes. Where arc Jap. Submarines? The American Associated Press military commentator (Mr. Clark Lee) says that the Bismarck Sea battle was not only a superb performance by Allied airmen, but also a victory of supply, because all equipment used in smashing the Japanese had to be transported from the United States to Australia by ship. He adds: “The fact that most American convoys reached their Pacific destinations unmolested by submarines is one of the big mysteries of the war. In marked contrast to Germany’s aggressive tactics, Japanese submarines in the Pacific have been active mainly as naval auxiliaries, and never seriously molesting our convoys.” Japanese Weaknesses The annihilation of the Japanese in the Huon Gulf was a fitting counterstroke to the sinking of the Prince of Wales and Repulse, declares the “London Sunday Times” war commentator. “Scrutator.” He emphasises that the episode illustrates the extent to which control of the sea has passed from surface warships to land-based aircraft in waters where the latter can operate.

“The Japanese were the first Power to grasp the full implications of airpower’s control of the sea.” he writes. “Their strategy in this regard has been admirable. Fortunately their equipment does not equal their strategy. “Their aircraft are now completely outclassed. Their army. too. has inadesuate mechanisation. It has been exceptionally well .trained for jungle lighting, but, on ordinary terrain, would be swamped by tanks and aircraft.”

Philippines the Goal

Such terrain occurs in Java and the Philippines, adds the commentator, expressing the belief that General MacArthur's strategy is directed towards the Philippines. “Approach will be a matter of planes, blasting the Japanese out of their intermediate bases, “Scrutator” says. ‘‘Until recently the Allies had insufficient planes to start the process which has now begun and will gather momentum as it proceeds through increasing the destruction of Japanese aircraft.”