GRAVE SOUTH SEA MENACE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 262, 4 August 1942, Page 5

GRAVE SOUTH SEA MENACE

Recent Enemy Gains NEARER MORESBY AND NEW CALEDONIA

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August. 3.

In the 19 raids on Australian territory during the past week the Japanese have employed more than 100 planes. The mainland was raided 14 times in attacks costing the enemy 16 planes, with two more probably destroyed. Observers are disquieted by this evidence of the enemy’s air power in the north, coupled with their recent land successes.

The Japanese are now closer than they have ever been to their prime strategic south-west Pacific objective— New Caledonia. Behind the feverish construction of new airfields on Guadalcanar, in the Solomon Islands, many commentators see a plan to provide land bases for the Japanese aircraft to be employed in conjunction with some new sea venture. This deficiency proved a decisive factor in the Battle of the Coral Sea, when the enemy fleet moving on Port Moresby lacked landbased air support. The acceptance in Washington of the recent Japanese operations as feints to conceal the enemy's intentions against Siberia is not favourably regarded. “It is here, and not in Washington, that the consequences of an erroneous judgment would be felt,” says the “Sydney Morning Herald.” which affirms that a major attack on Port Moresby is intended. “Communiques Too Brief.” Discussing the vital importance of Port Moresby to Australia’s defensive system, the “Herald” says: “The immediate task of the Allied forces must be to keep Port Moresby secure. Not only is it a shield for our northern mainland towns; it is also the advanced point from which the conquest of occupied Papua and New Guinea must be undertaken.” , The practicability of an enemy land attack from Buna across the Owen. Stanley Range against Port Moresby is discounted by the former New Zealand jour-

nalist, Mr. Osinar White, writing in the “Daily Telegraph.” Outlining the difficult nature of the country from Kokoda to Port Moresby, he says: “I do not believe that with our present strength and preparedness we can so grossly nusmanage the defence of Papua as to allow the Japanese to cross the Owen Stanley Ilange to Port Moresby.” Failure by the public to realize the grave implications of the Japanese .activities in the Solomons and Papua is also criticized by knowledgeable observers. Discussing the reasons for this complacency, the **Herald” says: , might be less impatient of the new reverses and better able to judge the realities of the Pacific war situation if they were taken more fully into the confidence of the Government and (he Allied command. The official communiques are masterpieces of brevity, if that be the appropriate word.” AGGRESSIVE SPIRIT IN PACIFIC Mr. Fraser’s Advocacy The opinion that a most successful offensive could, and would, be undertaken in the Pacific wun expressed yesterday by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, who made it clear that this was his personal view. He added that public opinion In Australia, as in New Zealand, was certainly not confined to the defensive attitude, but was definitely aggressive. “It is perfectly clear to me that the Australian Government emphatically stands for an offensive in the Pacific, believing that in many respects it holds out hope of maximum success,” said the Prime Minister.