COMING SOON

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22477, 12 January 1943, Page 3

COMING SOON

Big Battle In Pacific AN AMERICAN PREDICTION NEW YORK. January 10. A big sea and air battle in the Pacific within a week is predicted by Mr Joseph C. Harsch, writing in the “Christian Science Monitor.” He states that this “new climax to operations” will be as decisive as the naval battle of the Solomons last November when the Japanese lost 16 warships and 12 transports. “The latest information available in Washington makes it certain that both sides are preparing for the next round in the South-west Pacific, probably off the Solomons,” he adds. “United States sea and air power attained a new range of aggressive action last week while the Japanese are apparently preparing for a new and powerful thrust southwards. “In previous major actions the Japanese concentrated naval units at Truk rather than at Rabaul, for which reason the present concentration at Rabaul indicates that Japanese naval units at Truk are simultaneously concentrating for the same operation.” Mr Frank Iremsine, the Pearl Harbour correspondent of the United Press of America, also predicts a big battle in the Pacific soon. He adds that naval experts describe the situation by saying: "Both sides have been pumping up their tyres and getting ready to go again.” The most logical objective of the big Japanese naval concentrations is another thrust at Guadalcanal.