SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 21981, 9 March 1943, Page 3

SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC

CONCENTRATION OF SHIPS ALLIES NEED MORE PLANES (United Pre«s A«>n.—Eler. Tel. Copyright) (Special Correspondent) (Received March 9, 1 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 9 The annihilation of the Bismarck Sea convoy has not removed the Japanese threat in the Southern Pacific. Already new enemy ships moved into Rabaul Harbour and New Britain have substantially replaced the 22 vessels which were sunk in New Guinea waters last week. Military observers in Australia consider that the present concentration of enemy shipping at Rabatll is far heavier than is required merely to maintain supplies for the Japanese garrisons in the New Guinea and New Britain area. A reconnaissance photograph now released by General MacArthur’s headquarters and taken shortly before the departure of the Bismarck Sea convoy from Rabaul shows more than 60 warships and cargo vessels in the harbour. There are no fewer than that number there today. War correspondents at General MacArthur’s headquarters declare that the latest reconnaissance reports do not suggest that the probable loss of about 100 planes shot out of combat in the convoy action has drastically weakened the Japanese air fleets in the Southern Pacific. The enemy is believed to have adequate reserves of Zero protection for his intact bomber strength. Must Build Up Strength “Military leaders in this theatre of war do not consider that the brilliant Bismarck Sea victory justifies any modification of their belief in the great need to build up our strength to grapple with the Japanese," writes the Sydney Morning Herald war correspondent today. He adds: “There is a considerable difference of opinion between the authorities in this area and the authorities in Washington and London as to what forces and materials are necessary to fight a successful holding war in the Southern Pacific.” “The result of the Bismarck Sea action was a triumph for organisation and airmanship,” says the Morning Herald correspondent. “It could not by any stretch of imagination be attributed to the crushing force of the Allied air fleet that went out to stop the convoy.” The fact that only 136 Allied planes were thrown into the attack against a convoy protected by 10 warships and 150 fighters is pointed out as showing that the flow of aircraft to this theatre has not been as substantial as the requirements of the situation dictate. New appeals are understood to have been made to Washington for a larger Jjomber allocation for this area.

“The aid still sought is only what the authorities here consider to be the very minimum of what is needed for a holding war,” writes the Sydney Sun correspondent. “Although our aircraft, losses in combat have been negligible the maintenance and replacement of damaged planes is a thorny problem, calling for much ingenuily and improvisation. The Japanese movement over a 2000mile island arc has imposed an additional strain on the vital heavy bomber strength which is now being used for armed reconnaissance. Their diversion to this work has paid handsome dividends in giving a twoday warning of the despatch of last week's New Guinea convoy.” Disagreement with Washington

Authoritative Australian sources disagree flatly with the Washington view that the Japanese reinforcement of the Southern Pacific is based wholly on defensive strategy. They state that on his sea routes down to Malaya and across to the Solomons the enemy has tremendous free shipping tonnage above that required for her supply needs and that the 90,000-ton convoy sunk in the Bismarck Sea represented only a small proportion of this free tonnage. All the main Australian papers today feature articles stressing the points outlined above. The articles are written by their own correspondents attached to the South-west Pacific headquarters. It is emphasised that there is the fullest acceptance here of the Allied grand strategy that the Southern Pacific shall be a holding front—but there is a wide disparity in the estimates of what constitutes the minimum requirements to guarantee that the front will be held. Despatches from American correspondents to their home papers stress that with sufficient aircraft the Allied fliers could continue to take a terrific toll of Japanese ships, troops and materials. In the words of one American correspondent, “There are more and better Japanese targets in this area than anywhere else in the Pacific.” Fears in Nov Zealand The Sydngy Daily Telegraph today features an article by a war correspondent who has .iust returned from New Zealand, which is highly complimentary to the Dominion’s war effort. But the writer seems surprised that “New Zealanders fear that their country now stands in very great danger from the Japanese. This feeling persists despite Mr Curtin’s recent warnings and it will take a big and successful Japanese push to change most New Zealand minds on this point.” While there has been a strengthened feeling of optimism throughout Australia following the Bismarck Sea battle the official view here is that “the Pacific scene remains broadly the same as it was a week ago when General MacArthur issued I his warning on the growth of enemy i preparations north of Australia.”