NAVAL CLASH IN PACIFIC

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22478, 13 January 1943, Page 5

NAVAL CLASH IN PACIFIC

Americans Eager And Ready

Confident Of Outcome N.Z.PA,—Special Australian Correspondent (10 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 12. The United States naval forces are boldly confident of the outcome of any engagement with the Japanese fleet, according to reports by Australian war correspondents with the United States South Pacific Fleet. With the American-held Southern Solomons seen as the probably objective for a further drive by the Japanese, the correspondents points out that America’s naval and air position in this theatre is much stronger than it was before Christmas, when Admiral Halsey “trailed his coat" through southwestern waters in a vain attempt to induce the Japanese to give battle. Admiral Greenslade (Commander of the San Francisco naval district) describes the Solomons as “a baited trap where the Japanese head has been caught and the carcase must inevitably follow’ and be pinioned." Mr Foster Hailey, correspondent of the "New York Times’’ in the South Pacific, says that Guadalcanal is now securely in American hands and is being strengthened as a base for a further offensive move. Any action is expected to result from the move by a large part of the armada off Rabaul, combined with activity by other enemy war shipping in the Northern Solomons and the mandated areas. An indication of the strength of the Japanese concentration off Rabaul is the statement that it is “comparable with the Midway convoy,” which comprised 54 war vessels, exclusive of transports. The correspondent of the “New York Sun,” Mr David Lawrence, quotes Admiral Halsey’s recent statements as among Allied efforts to goad the shorttempered Japanese war lords into pursuing one expensive fight in the South Pacific. He declares that it would be a pity if the Japanese withdrew in this area, thus preventing a less vulnerable target at the end of their attenuated supply lines. Some American authorities, including the well-informed “Wall Street Journal,” believe that Japans’ present moves are aimed at securing her southern defensive arc so she may relieve the strain on her shipping by shifting a sizeable portion of her heavy industries close to her sources of raw material in the South Sea areas. Tills would free 1,000,000 tons of shipping for essential war tasks and would enable the widest utilisation of unlimited native labour. The New York journal, "American,” says editorially that the dissatisfaction in Australia and China at the conduct of the war against Japan is a matter of grave concern. The danger is 'ot only that the Japanese are being allowed to entrench themselves. "It is a potentially fatal situation when some of the United Nations believe that available resources are denied to them,” declares the paper. “Our allover policy should be re-examined in the light of the present opportunity and requirements for victory.” The bombing of the convoy bound for Lae (New Guinea), was followed with close interest in Britain. The “News-Chronicle,” commenting, made reference to President Roosevelt’s remark that the Allies’ tactics in the Pacific had so far been “delaying strategy.” It adds: “The present situation affords clear evidence that the Allies’ strategy is succeeding. It may be taken that for the time being both Australia and India are safe. The re-conquest of the territories which Japan has over-run should now go forward, gathering momentum.” The “News-Chronicle” says that wellinformed circles in London are of the opinion that Japan is at present concerned chiefly to hold on to her territorial gains, not to launch out on fresh campaigns, but there are expected to be fierce attempts to retrieve her losses in the islands.

A naval communique issued at Washington states: “On Sunday our forces on Guadalcanal laid down an artillery barrage against Japanese positions. Dauntless dive-bombers and Airacobra fighters followed the shelling by bombing and strafing the enemy area. Following the shelling and bombing, ground forces made small advances into enemy territory. The enemy resistance was weak.”