SEVERE FIGHTING

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22203, 24 November 1943, Page 4

SEVERE FIGHTING

MENACE TO JAPANESE

CENTRAL PACIFIC HOPES LANDING ON NAURU? (United Press Assn. —Eler. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 24. 1 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 23 The Japanese must choose between a major naval clash with ihe United States Pacific Fleet, and losing the Gilbert Islands in the Central Pacific, says American military observers. Without naval support the enemy garrisons on Tarawa, Makin and Abemama cannot hold out against the powerful United States forces. A Japanese communique says: “Severe fighting is progressing particularly on Tarawa.” The Japanese also claim that their air forces, operating in support of the defenders ot the Gilbert Islands, have since Friday sunk an Allied medium aircraft-carrier and a destroyer, damaged three aircraft-car-riers, a battleship and a transport, and shot down 125 planes. They claim that only 15 Japanese planes have been lost. The New York Times’ Pearl Harbour correspondent expects that Makin Island will fall first, and says that other landings may be made on Japanese-held islands, probably Nauru and Ocean Island. From Tarawa Nauru is 450 miles southwesl and Ocean Island 3no miles south-west. Test of Japanese Strength Future plans arc obviously being kept secret, but there is no question of the effort of the current operations on Truk, the Caroline I lands and other Japanese bases, against which our superior air and sea forces can move when the Gilbert, positions are assured. Maior Fieldmg Elliot, writing in the New York Herald-Tribune, says: “The Makin. Tarawa and Abemama landings are a test of Japanese sea and air strength. No Pacific atoll can contain a garrison which unaided would be able to hold out against the terrific power of a modern amphibious striking force. What is really important is ihe test of Japanese ability to hold the Central Pacific at all Many observers believe that their air power is so thinly spread and depleted by heavy losses in the South and South-west Pacific that it is not equal to the task. Therefore, the Japanese must now choose oetween the loss of the Central Pacific or throwing in their battle fleet in an attempt to restore the situation.” The New York Times says: “A major sea battle appears to be contrary to Japanese strategy. The Japanese regard their navy primarily as an auxiliary to the army, responsible for securing the army's communication lines witnin the island empire.” The paper adds: “The prospect of the Japanese navy risking defeat in open battle, thereby endangering the communication lines of Japan’s farflung battlefror.t, is more than dim.” Toughened Troops

The Pearl Harbour spokesman describes the United States army forces in the Central Pacific as principally untried troops, but hardened and toughened by long training. Abemama, where the latest landings have been made, is 12 miles by 5. A lagoon has entrance for vessels up to 500 tons and there is a good anchorage. Before the war the atoll had a trading station and a Roman Catholic mission school. Colonel Knox said that so far no elements of the Japanese fleet have appeared to oppose the landings on the Gilbert Islands He Believed that the nearest Japanese fleet of any strength is at Truk.