DUAL OFFENSIVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 295, 15 December 1942, Page 5

DUAL OFFENSIVE

‘ COMING IN PACIFIC SIGNS ARE DETECTED Pearl Harbour. Dec. 13. The United Press says that wellinformed quarters believe the United Nations are preparing a double-barrelled offensive. The steady mopping up of Guadalcanar and advances in New Guinea are believed to mean that the Allies will soon have strong spring-boards from which to launch a real offensive. Supplies and equipment for this are moving steadily into the southern Solomons and it is expected that when the time comes the forces on Guadalcanar will move northward towards Bougainville and General MacArthur’s troops will move north-east towards New Britain. The news from the South-west Pacific is evidence that General MacArthur is conducting a very belligerent “holding” campaign against Japan writes “P.M.'s” military commentator. The strength of tne land forces under General MacArthur and the sea power under Admirals Nimitz and Halsey in the Pacific theatre has never been disclosed, and there is doubt whether th?y are capable of launching an offensive at present. “Most observers are convinced that we should be content to consolidate strong advanced positions in New Guinea and the Solomons until a greater proportion of our dispersed strength can be delivered to the South-west Pacific,” he writes. “General MacArthur’s intensive drive in New Guinea and our determined bold on the Solomons are necesary for safety’s sake, they say. So lon.g as we can hold these strong positions the Japs will be unable to strike at New Caledonia, New Zealand, or Australia. “Unlike land warfare, such as is fought on the Russian front for instance, the enemy cannot bypass such Allied bases safely. Their supply lines could be harassed constantly from Guadalcanar and New Guinea* if they were so bold as to try to extend their encroachment further southward.” AUSTRALIAN VALOUR AMERICAN TRIBUTE New York. Dec. 12. The Chicago Tribune, in an editorial, says that the Australians have long been noted for valour, but have never fought so well as in the present New Guinea campaign. Air dominance is an important factor, but lighting spirit is more important. The outstanding contribution which Australia has thus far made in the war has been the fighting spirit in New Guinea. The Japanese fancied themselves masters of jungle fighting, but today know they have met their masters. The New York Post's correspondent, Edward Hunter, says that the temptation is almost overwhelming to refer to Japan's attempt to hold Buna as suicidal, but evidence is accumulating that Japan's defence is part of a far-seeing strategy to prolong tne war till it becomes a stalemate if outright victory is unattainable. The Japanese always have looked far ahead in strategy. We can be sure they are deeply impressed with the cost of the New Guinea campaign, both to themselves and the United Nations. They are studying Guadalcanar where, after months, the United States holds only a few miles. Neither Buna and Gona nor Guadalcanal' is as heavily fortified as .scores of Japanese bases in the Carolines and Marshalls. the capture of which would be costly and take even longer than Buna. Thus it is perfectly logical for Japan to assume that she can lose those islands and consider each loss a guarantee that she will not lose the war. She is banking on the belief that cost and the time factor will wear down patience and force the United States •to accept a makeshift peace. This would be tantamount to an Axis victory and would give the Japanese breathing space to strike again. DOUBLE INTERCEPTION JAPANESE DESTROYERS ATTACKED Washington. Dec. 13. A United States Navy communique states:— In the South Pacific at 6 p.m. on December 11. Douglas Dauntless divebombers from Guadalcanar attacked a formation of 11 Japanese destroyers headed towards Guadalcanar, apparently for the purpose of reinforcing and supplying the troops. Bomb hits were scored on five of the destroyers.

THOUSAND U-BOATS (Reed. 7 p.m.) London, Dec. 13. The Germiyi-controlled Scandinavian news agency quotes authoritative quarters in Berlin as claiming that 1000 U-boats are now operating. Shortly after midnight on December 12 the enemy formation, continuing toward Guacialcanar. was attacked by surface forces guarding the island. The U.S. forces sank one destroyer, set on fire and probably sank another, and damaged another. The Americans lost one motor torpedo-boat. On December 11 Flying Fortresses dropped 155 1001 b. bombs on Munda airfield in New Georgia. Clouds prevented an observation of the results. All our planes returned. On December 12 seven Flying Fortresses and lighter? scored four 10001 b. bomn hits on the Munda landing strip and dropped 80 1001 b. bombs in a general area. All our planes returned. In the north Pacific on December 11 ; throe army Marauders scored two ; 5001 b. bomb hits on a vessel, formerly , aground in a lagoon at Kiska, and bombed and strafed shore installations. ( GRAVEYARD OF SHIPS WATERS AROUND SAVO New York, Dec. 12. A United Press correspondent, Charles Arnot, in a de'ayeJ di'.pa h fro n Guadalcanar, says that the waters surrounding the volcanic isle of Savo, in the SM :mo:is. have become the war’s greatest ship graveyard, Japanese warships and transports sent to the bot.'o.u outirunbering the American by almost two to one. According to the latest official announcements, Japan has lost 52 vessels since August 7 and America has lost 27. Savo. with peaks towering high above sea level, is known as “The ; Tombstone.” Five major engagement' ■ have been fought around the island 1 under cover of darkness since the ' Marines landed on August 7. Each battle marked the fiercest toe-to-toe slugging with big guns and torpedoes in action at less than 2000 1 yards. Japan refused to believe that the Americans who have secured a hold : on Guadalcanar would continue to ' send in warships and transports. ' •