STRATEGIC VALUE OF GUADALCANAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 42, 20 February 1943, Page 5

STRATEGIC VALUE OF GUADALCANAR

REALISED BY AMERICANS

(Recd. 7 p.m.) Washington, Feb. 18. “The strategic value of Guodalcanar Is worth all the Japanese efforts to retake, it and all the United States might expended to hold it,” declared Major - General Vandegrift, commander of the marine force which captured the island.

He added:—“We must not underestimate the Japanese fighting ability, though I found nothing to build up the bogey of Japanese invincibility. We must have something the Japanese lack—intelligence and ability to work alofie.”

The New York Times’ military correspondent, speculating on the inactivity of the Japanese naval and air forces in the Solomons, says most informed observers believe that Japan is strengthening her defensive positions in expectation of new Allied activity. However, others are of opinion that the Japanese are saving their heavy naval units for a surprise blow at Allied shipping concentrations. A naval spokesman points out that the Japanese used only planes and destroyers in the latest Solomons battle, although their battleships and ’carriers were only a few hundred miles from the scene.

The United Press correspondent says that, following Col. Frank Knox’s statement that the United States plans to attack Japan’s main bases instead of pursuing an island-hopping campaign, some naval observers believe that Japan fears an attack upon her Gilbert, Marshall, Truk or Formosa bases, even on her homeland. Japan has lost one-seventh of her total air strength in the past year, mostly in the South and South-west Pacific theatres, according to Chungking authorities. They estimate that Japan has lost more than 3000 first-

line aircraft. The same authorities say the total strength of the Japanese Army is still between 98 and 100 divisions, each numbering about 15,000 men. Twentytwo of these divisions are believed to be stationed in the various South and South-west Pacific areas, almost twice the number of troops used to conquer these territories.

The New China Daily quotes a traveller from Malaya as saying that during their first year of occupation the Japanese have arrested 97,00(. Chinese in Malaya and Singapore, and masacred an undetermined number.

The Japanese had forced Chinese industrialists to continue producing rubber, minerals, rice and timber at fixed low rates. They succssfuelly raised a 50,000,000-dollar loan to which Malayan princes and Chinese millionaires contributed obediently. The Japanese now rule Malaya directly, instead of by puppets. ♦ All former Japanese dentists and barbers in Singapore are now holding important official positions. The Japanese have instituted a mutual guarantee system throughout Malaya, by which 30 families are formed into guarantee units. If any member of the unit di : i - ’ ?s the Japanese, all members oi in Hies are executed.