KENNEY'S MISSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24536, 19 March 1943, Page 3

KENNEY'S MISSION

GOOD RESULTS LIKELY MORE AMERICAN ASSISTANCE (Special Australian Correspondent) (Roccl. 5.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 18 "111 spite of urgent calls on American equipment by other theatres, it appears that LieutenantGeneral G. G. Kenney, Allied Air Chief in the South-west Pacific, will not return to Australia emptyhanded from his visit to Washington, and that new allocations to be made to General Mac Arthur's forces will be more than a mere token," says a writer in the Sydney Morning Herald. "It is understood General Kenney has been, received cordially, and that there is a completely sympathetic approach to General Mac Arthur's problems. The fact remains, of course, that from the viewpoint of global strategy, the main concentration of American interest is still' on the African front." Below Safety Level Referring further to the discussions between Generals Kenney and Sutherland!, Chief of Staff to General MacArthur, and Washington officials, the correspondent adds that the facts given by General Kenney are believed to indicate that General Mao Arthur's air force is at present below the minimum safety level, attritional losses having brought it down considerably from: its original major strength. Repairs and replacements are said to constitute an important problem.

On the question of troop reinforcements, it is believed to have been pointed out to Washington that tropical diseases have made heavy inroads on the Allied forces at South-west Pacific battle stations. Japanese Concentrations With Pacific affairs increasingly forcing attention in America, appreciations of the present strategic situation continue conflicting, but commentators express tlie opinion that Japanese concentrations in the Southern Pacific are primarily for defence. Major Fielding Eliot, the Australian-born military analyst for the New York Herald-Tribune, believes they are chiefly aimed at preventing General Mac Arthur and Admiral Halsey from getting set for an attack. The loss of Rabaul would be the mast ssrious reverse the Japanese had yet experienced "It is possible the Japanese have in ! mind a diversionary offensive against Darwin," writes Major Eliot, "but the Japanese High Command must find the Darwin adventure heavily weighted with risk against comparatively small chances of 'useful achievement. It is also possible the Japanese are getting ready to attempt the seizure of Merauke, an Allied base in South New Guinea, from which their aircraft might be able to prevent the use of the Torres Strait shipping route to Darwin. Moreover, it might be possible to use Merauke as a base for launching raiding groups into the Gulf of Carpentaria, thus tying up United Nations forces which could better be employed elsewhere." Obstacle to Enemy The military commentator of P.M. says:-"The weight of evidence indicates that the increased Japanese activity is aimed at the protection of captured possessions rather than a full-dress attempt to invade Australia." The writer points out that the supply problem faced by the Japanese if they ever managed to land in Australia would bo an almost insurmountable obstacle. "If the Japanese do intend to go on the offensive again," he says, "they are more likely to try an island-to-island march down the Solomons, menacing the New Hebrides and New Caledonia." Nevertheless, American reports indicate that the enormously developed Australian war industry is recognised as a highly-important Allied asset, which must be protected beyond the remote possibility of its loss to or damage by the Japanese. Australia is awaiting with anticipatory interest the outcome of General Kenney's visit to Washington, and at present, a year after the arrival here of General Mac Arthur and the first American forces, military writers are paying grateful tribute for the assistance already given in the Southern Pacific by the United States. Common Responsibility "'lt is well to remember that but for the United States it would have been impossible for Australia to retain any effective hold 011 the Pacific Island stepping stones so vital to her safety," says a Sydney Morning; Herald correspondent, "Only America's promptness in speedily sending forces to New Caledonia, the New Hebrides and Fiji, checkmated the swift Japanese sweep southward to New Zealand. "The time is long past when wo could afford to indulge in the luxury of debating whether the Americans came to the South-west Pacific to _ save Australia or preserve the American continent from invasion. Both countries have the same responsibility—to defeat Japan. For the men who fight the one thing that counts is to finish off the Japanese at the earliest possible moment and, to accomplish that end, the bigger and quicker the aid the better." PACIFIC WAR COUNCIL (Real. 5,15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 17 Following a Pacific War Council meeting, the Now Zealand Minister to the United States, the Hon. W. Nash, said the council had studied a variety of subjects, including the Japanese concentrations in the New Guinea area. President Roosevelt, who had earlier 1 conferred with Generals Kenney and Sutherland, opened a long discussion on America's piano output and utilisation. Mr. Nash said the proposed meeting of the United Nations probably would take place within two months. A tentative date had been mentioned, but not' disclosed. This was the last Pacific Council meeting to be attended by Mr. Nash before his return to New Zealand. After the meeting he saw Mr. "Roosevelt privately. The British Ambassador in Washington, Lord Halifax, said one of the subjects discussed by the council was the quinine supply. It was doubtful if Mr. Eden would have time to confer with the council before he left Washington. HEAVY RAIDS ON KISKA (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) WASHINGTON. March 17 A United States Navy communique reports six bombing attacks on Monday on Japanese installations at Kiska. This was the heaviest series of attacks in cine day yet made 011 Kiska. Light naval forces, without casualties or loss, bombarded Japanese positions at Vila, in the Solomons, with good results, while a number of bombing attacks were made 011 enemy bases in tlie South-west Pacific,