SOLOMONS BATTLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 203, 28 August 1942, Page 3

SOLOMONS BATTLE

ENEMY WITHDRAWS

Further Losses Inflicted On

Japanese Navy

United Press Association —Copyright Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 27.

The Japanese naval forces appear to have withdrawn from the battle in the south-east Solomons. There has been no further action at sea since the last communique was issued, when it was reported that a strong Japanese attack on Guadalcanal' had been repulsed. Ten Japanese warships and four other vessels have been damaged.

It is stated by observers that preparation for the third phase of the Solomons campaign may begin at any time. The second phase seems to have come to a close with victory for the United States forces.

In Washington, the Pacific War Council met under the chairmanship of Mr. Roosevelt to hear an up-to-date report of the Solomons operations. The New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, was in attendance and had an extensive report to make on New Zealand's war effort.

Mr. Nash, New Zealand's Minister to Washington, said that the situation in the Solomon Islands was encouraging. There had been some dispersal of Japanese forces. Lord Halifax declared that General Mac-Arthur was very much impressed with the cordial co-operation of the Australian, New Zealand and American forces in the South-west Pacific. Showdown is at Hand "A Pacific showdown seems at hand," says Hanson Baldwin, New York Times commentator, referring to the Solomons campaign, "which may alter the finely-drawn balance of power in the Pacific, thus affecting the entire course of the war in the Pacific theatre." He explains that it is clear that the marines and the navy are tenaciously clinging to footholds on Guadalcanar and other southern Solomon Islands while the American Air Force is operating from one or more recently-conquered fields.

"This is a big asset and is enhanced by the proximity of the Solomons to the other Allied bases in Australia, the New Hebrides, New Caledonia and elsewhere, from which long-range bombers, supporting our naval forces, can operate," he says. The fact that both sides are throwing considerable naval forces inta the action stresses the strategic importance of the battle because the Solomons and Dieppe proved that invasion and occupation are possible only if naval superiority can be maintained. Therefore, the Japanese air attacks on Guadalcanar and the abortive Japanese landing attempts are considerably less important than a naval clash.

Concluding, Mr. Baldwin says: "The Solomons may be the preface to other action elsewhere. Since June, when Japan chose Midway Island and Hawaii as her objectives, she has not struck anywhere until now, but the Japanese will not entertain a passive concept of war. The Coral Sea battle preceded Midway—the Solomons may precede an attempt against Hawaii unless successive defeats too greatly deplete the Japanese Navy."

MAJOR SETBACK PROSPECT FOR JAPS? Effect Of Latest Naval Battle On Pacific Situation United Press Association—Copyright Special Australian Correspondent SYDNEY, Aug. 27. A major setback for the Japanese navy within the next few days could reduce enemy seapower to a point where it might not again be able to challenge the American fleet, whose strength is rapidly increasing. This is the opinion among Australian observers, but a London report that "Japan has already lost naval supremacy in the South-west Pacific" is regarded as premature. Pictures of the fighting around the Solomons are far from complete, but American naval communiques are known to be ultra-conservative and the latest statement that "results of the fight so far are encouraging," is accepted as giving good grounds for optimism.

American observers report that the sea and air battle is apparently raging with increased fury, in spite of the withdrawal of one Japanese force. Heavy enemy units are thought to be still in the battle, which so far has served to confirm agafti the superiority of land-based aircraft in such operations. This advantage lies strongly with the Allies. Aerial forces alone were used in the battle engagement up till Monday, except for bne destroyer attack against shore targets. However, observers believe the Japanese fleet may now come to close grips with the American fleet for the first time since the Pacific war began. Growing American Air Strength It is pointed out that Japan needs desperately to regain the initiative and she is thus likely to accept the issue sought and provoked by the Allies before American consolidation, in the southern Solomons is completed. Once the Allies have established numbers of airfields in the area Japan's chances of retaking the islands will have dwindled to vanishing point.

The American forces in the Solomons are stated to be using Buccaneer and Hell-diver dive-bombers and Avenger torpedo bombers against the Japanese ships. American predictions are that the enemy losses will at least equal those in the Midway Island Battle.

Arthur Hale, a radio news analyst, says the Allies have regained the Pacific naval superiority they lost at Pearl Harbour on December 7. He adds: "But, before we can say the Pacific is ours, we must smash the Japanese fleet in its home waters."' The opinion in.Australia that Japan still has great s'trength in the Southwest Pacific is sharply underlined by the latest enemy New Guinea landing. "We should not believe that a powerful and persistent enemy will tamely allow reverses in the Solomons to discourage him from further adventures in the South Seas, ,! says the Sydney Sun in a leading article.

"He still has his forward bases in the Bismarck Archipelago and on New Guinea itself. The latest landing proves his intention to increase their number so as to encircle our one outpost in this region, Port Moresby." Pointing out that the enemy can speedily and powerfully reinforce his -ea, air and land forces from bases in the Marshall and Caroline Inlands, the Sun adds: "if we may loolc upon the last fortnight's success as the turn of the tide, the ilnod of Japanese conquest may still send the spume of its heavier waves into channels closer to Australia and New Zealand. Before the full ebb many battles will have to be fought upland, sea and air."