Jap. Navy Frightened To Meet Allied Fleet

Northern Advocate, 22 April 1944, Page 4

Jap. Navy Frightened To Meet Allied Fleet

' LONDON, April 21. “Challenged by a powerful Allied fleet to join in battle off the Dutch East Indies, the Japanese navy lias given proof that it is not prepared to fight outside a protecting belt of islands in the Indian Ocean,” says the naval correspondent of the “Daily Mail.” ‘‘Admiral Somerville’s task force which struck a surprising blow against Sumatra, headed into an area over which the enemy must keep a daily reconnaissance. If they had been prepared to give battle, there is no reason why they should not have been able to get to the scene before Allied bombers and fighters took off to pound the airfields and docks at Sabang. “The reason the Japanese refused to fight in the Indian Ocean is clear. Within the shelter of the protecting islands of the Andamans and Nicobars and tite Netherlands Indies, their fleet can operate with land-based air cover. This avoids the handicap of facing Allied fleets which have overwhelming superiority in aircraft-carriers. “This principle has been scrupulously observed by the Japanese in all their Pacific fighting. It seems that in the Indian Ocean also, they will wait for us to attack inside the island barrier before putting to sea to meet us.”

Tightening of Pincers

Sabang attack is interpreted in naval circles as a tightening of the pincers against Japan’s extended outposts, says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” It is pointed out that the attack is striking evidence of Allied naval preponderance m the Far East.

It is significant that British warships which were previously pre-occupied in the Atlantic are now able to be the spearhead of such an important attack. A British spokesman at Washington described the attack as a challenge to the Japanese fleet, part of which is believed to be at Singapore, the approach to which is covered by Sabang. The “New York Times” says: “There have been unconfirmed suggestions that the British are extremely interested in reconquering Singapore and Burma, whereas the Americans are more concerned in striking along a direct route to Japan. However, both British and American naval sources in Washington today have unreservedly repudiated any hint of official differences.” The paper added that the South-East Asia campaign was following the lines laid down at the Quebec conference. Mr. Stimson, commenting on the Far Eastern situation, said there was no occasion for mystery in connection with India and Burma theatre where Allied forces hold ground and air superiority and the Allied military position is sound.