CONTROL OF NEW GUINEA

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22353, 20 May 1944, Page 4

CONTROL OF NEW GUINEA

Another leap forward by American forces to the Wakde and Sarmi areas of New Guinea gives the Allies air and naval cover of the whole of the northern coast of the huge island and practically robs the Japanese of this southern anchor to the defensive line covering the Philippines. What is required first of New Guinea is that it shall be neutralised as a base for enemy operations to the northward, and this has probably already been achieved as far as the northern coast is concerned. When its sea and air striking power has been taken away New Guinea can be by-pa&sed and left to the mopping-up forces, as has been done in the Solomons. With the southern flank secured against serious interference the Allied forces can continue their advance toward the Philippines. With the north coast of New Guinea under air and naval control the Allies will have a closer interest in the Celebes, and Timor to the south also. Whether the Japanese have any strength on the -southern New Guinea coast facing the Arafura Sea is not clear. The proven tactics which have already brought the Americans across a wide stretch of the Pacific have again been successful. The softening process of bombing reduced the Japanese defences to impotence, so that the landing forces reached their immediate objectives with little difficulty. An exceedingly efficient method and machinery have been developed. Prolonged bombing is followed by naval bombardment if such is necessary, and then that most useful invention the landing craft noses into the shore and discharges fighting men and machines with the minimum of delay. Landing craft have revolutionised amphibious warfare and solved the major problem of the Pacific war. To get ashore in the face of island defences was the great obstacle. The combination of air bombing and escorting with landing craft is the secret of success and it is being exploited admirably. The Japanese have not yet discovered an effective counter. Probably none is possible apart from superiority in the weapons employed by the Allies.