STILL STRONG

Timaru Herald, Volume CLII, Issue 22398, 9 October 1942, Page 5

STILL STRONG

Japanese Pacific Fleet Offensive May Be Launched By Telegraph —N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright NEW YORK, October 7 Naval observers point out that the Japanese fleet, in spite of its heavy losses, is still strong enough to launch a new offensive in the South-west and Central Pacific, states the Pearl Harbour correspondent of the United Press of America. The American victories in the Ccral Sea and Midway Island battles were based primarily on the element of surprise, and they should not be taken to mean that the Japanese cannot or have not dealt heavy blows. The Japanese may strike at any one of three principal objectives: (1) Against American bases in the Solomons to nip the head of the United Nations’ counter-offensive. (2) Against the principal .steppingstones on the Southern Pacific supply route to Australia; (3) Against the Midway-Hawaii area to smash or capture the United States Pacific Fleet’s base.

I itter Fighting Predicted The Under-Secretary for the Navy (Mr James J. Forrestal), who has just returned from a tour of the southern Pacific areas, predicts a revirti> ul bitter fighting in the Solomons. “For the first time the little squat men have been sent back and they do not like it," he said. “There will o', nothing static about our very active second front down under." Mr Roosevelt told a meeting of the Pacific War Council that the Pacific theatre was relatively quiet. He added that although the situation was stationary the outlook was encouraging. The Hon. W. Nash stated after the meeting that the Council studied the Guadalcanar position, but there was no big news. There Was a general lull.

Mr L. G. McCarthy (Canadian Minister) said the news from the Solomons was satisfactory, although not dramatic.