ISLAND DEFENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25214, 1 May 1943, Page 5

ISLAND DEFENCE

NEW JAPANESE SYSTEM PORTABLE AIR FLEETS NEW YORK. Apl. 29. “ The position in the Southern Pacific has improved somewhat.” stated the Secretary for War, Mr H. L. Stimson, reviewing the war situation. During the past fortnight the number of enemy planes and surface vessels in the area appeared to have declined, but the strong possibility of a Japanese offensive still remained. Therefore, General MacAi/thur was being sent all possible reinforcements, particularly ot aircraft. The pattern of recent Japanese air assaults in the Southern Pacific has disclosed a new enemy defensive system, writes the Christian Science Monitor’s correspondent, who says the Japanese have built up portable air fleets similar to the air fleet system around the Luftwaffe’s European periphery. “ The Japanese have long maintained a large unit in Southern Asia, a small one in Central China, a larger one on the Manchurian-Siberian frontier, and a medium-sized concentration in the Aleutians,” says the correspondent. “ Their new Fifth Air Fleet, now based on Rabaul, New Britain, can be compared with Air Marshal Kesselring’s Luftwaffe fleet based on Southern Italy. This fifth fleet is entrusted with the defence of the Japanese southern flank, using Rabaul ®as the keystone of the entire south-eastern arch. It is strong enough to meet any likely emergency. With the bulk of its repair, maintenance, and replacement installations concentrated at Rabaul, this portable air fleet is able to move down through the Solomons, using bases at Buka, Feisi, Ballale, Kieta, Buin, Vila, Munda. and Rekata Bay.” . Discussing the numerous American bombings of the Japanese airfield at. Munda, the correspondent quotes the testimony of many pilots that it is virtually impossible to destroy the enemy air strip completely by air attacks. Thus, until Rabaul is knocked out, the pyramidal network of Japanese air strips will remain practically intact, unless actually occupied.