ENEMY TACTICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25277, 14 July 1943, Page 3

ENEMY TACTICS

DEFENCE OF MUNDA ALLIES’ DIFFICULTIES SYDNEY, July 13. A despatch from an American war correspondent in the Solomons suggests that the Japanese air base at Munda, New Georgia, may capitulate within a week, but that view has not been supported by Australian correspondents. , „ Estimates of the strength of the Japanese ground forces in New Georgia vary between 5000 and 10,000. The defending troops are scattered in small groups and are difficult to make contact with. . “Enemy patrols, survey parties, and emplacements were scattered at all points of the compass, making it a difficult task to rout them put and prevent them from withdrawing into the bush,” wrote one correspondent accompanying a force of attacking American marines. “Other obstacles are provided by the myriad of small islands, uncharted reefs, and thousands of inlets, where enemy barges may hide all day, moving only at night. The enemy spent a considerable time surveying such waterways before the war. While it is expected that New Georgia will be cleaned up far more quickly than Guadalcanar, it is always possible that the Japanese will attempt heavy reinforcement, eventually withdrawing into the bush. This will necessitate long mopping-up operations. So far it appears that the Japanese efforts to bring any largescale reinforcements to New Georgia have been repulsed, though small numbers may have leaked through.” “ The appearance of Japanese cruiser and destroyer forces in New Georgia waters indicates that the enemy is prepared to renew the tactics that in the first Solomons campaign cost him 46 ships sunk, 9 probably sunk, and 45 damaged, as well as thousands of lives —and did not save Guadalcanar,” says an Australian war correspondent in the area. “These tactics lead to savage naval night engagements, reverting to the days of Trafalgar, when ships stood close in and fired almost point blank. This kind of naval warfare is like two blindfolded men alone in a darkened room, each armed with a knife. It is risky for both. The chances are that the first blow will decide the victor. And Japanese naval gunnery (in spite of the results of the battle of Kula Gulf) is good, even if the Japanese army artillery is bad. Every time we fight an action of this kind we risk our ships. The United States Navy, however, has long felt that it has the edge on Tojo’s fleet, and every action fought increases that confidence.” A deterioration in the quality of the Japanese pilots fighting in the Central Solomons is reported by Allied flyers in the area. Japanese Army airmen are now appearing where only navy pilots previously had been employed. The enemy machines, however, include some of the latest types, among them the new model Zero fighters.