NEW ZEALAND THIRD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 230, 30 September 1942, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND THIRD

JAPANESE CONQUEST LIST ( WOULD HAVE TO SMASH U.S. ; FLEET (Special Australian Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) Sydney, Sept. 28. While many Australian war commentators continue io express a belief that the Japanese occupation of Port Moresby would be a prelude to immediate invasion attempts against the mainland, the same view is not held by most American correspondents in the South Pacific. Martin Agronsky, the New York Da>ly Mirror correspondent, who has just returned to America from Australia, lists Port Moresby, New Caledonia. and New Zealand as the order of conquest in Japan's south Pacific strategy. "Although General MacArthur forestalled a Japanese invasion of Australia,” says Mr. Argonsky, "the enemy believes he can accomplish the same purpose by sitting astride the United States-Australia supply line. Japan has not lost the initiative in this theatre. He says that fast cargo vessels capable of speed up to 25 knots have been a secret of Japan's success. These vessels, which have long been prepared to do war transport work, have enabled Japan to move large numbers of men to press home quickly advantages gained by the first invaders Discussing recent successes by the Allied air force in the South Pacific, Mr. Agronsky declares that despite the superior quality of our fliers and tactics, we cannot match Japan's Zero fighter, and our fliers are still waiting for higher altitude ships to put them on the same level as the Zeros. Although the next six months will be crucial ones in this theatre, with Japan endeavouring as the first move to dislodge, the American occupants of the lower 'Solomons (protecting the South Pacific supply line menacing both Japan’s naval system concentrated at Truk and her hold on the other islands), American commentators here feel that the United Nations are now better prepared to withstand and counter the enemy’s aggressive thrusts than at any previous time in the Pacific war. The “thin margin of sea power” in this theatre has been declared by Admiral Nimitz to lie with the United Nations. Before an invasion of New Zealand would be possible, Japan would have to annihilate the American Fleet—which with the passage of time becomes a fear increasingly remote. Even enemy full scale moves against the nearer objectives -of Port Moresby or New Caledonia must involve a major naval clash, which the enemy seems anxious to postpone — although such a battle is regarded here as inevitable. With the improved flow of reinforcements, it is now grossly pessimistic to believe that the South Pacific air supremacy—won despite the admitted superior features of the’Japanese Zero —can be wrested from the Allies, unless Japan is prepared to throw in aircraft without regard for losses. The renewed Japanese efforts in this theatre —which are admitted by Tokio to be intended to check the increasing aggressiveness of the United Nations —present grave dangers to Australia and New Zealand, but they also present opportunities for coming to grips with the enemy under favourable terms. Moderate Australian opinion is a reflection of this view, and it is epitomised by the Sydney Morning Herald’s correspondent, who writes: “It is to soon to say that the tide has turned, but last week’s developments, both in the Solomons and New Guinea, have certainly not led to any further deterioration in the Allied position. “There can be no wider strategical security until the Japanese movement south is put into reverse, and until the base at Rabaul is reduced. For the present, each phase in the battle for the islands must be viewed as an element in a much wider struggle, with most dangerous davs still ahead.”