FURTHER BID EXPECTED

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 283, 28 August 1942, Page 5

FURTHER BID EXPECTED

Enemy Venture Not

Concluded

NEW PERSPECTIVE The Japanese appear to have lost the first round of their counter-offensive against the southeastern Solomons in extraordinarily quick time, says the Press Association correspondent at a south Pacific port.

Unless action has/ since developed afresh, their approach to Guadalcanal does not appear to' have been pressed with anything like the determination which characterized the assault by the United States Marines and the Allied naval forces on the islands almost three weeks ago. It would even seem that the Japanese have failed to disembark any of their forces. However, it should not be taken that their reported withdrawal betokens a decision to relinquish the enterprise. A further assault seems inevitable.

The Japanese wounds in this weeks affray, severe and annoying though they will be to the enemy, probably do uot do more than touch the main strength of the Japanese naval force which can be brought to bear if Japan decides to pledge it. The losses suffered in the Coral Sea, off Midway, and in the two Solomon Islands actions, have not yet been sufficient to justify wishful thinking that Japanese naval power is no longer to be feared. Vice-Admiral Ghormleys’ fresh success shows that miracles of preparation against the counter-offensive have been achieved in the extremely short time he has had at his command since the islands were captured. The general position now seems to be that Admiral Gnormley and his Marine Corps forces ashore on the islands have won more time in which to prepare the offensive and defensive capabilities of the islands. Yet More Encouraging.

Provided possible losses in ships, personnel, aircraft and general equipment can be replaced and added to quickly, the outlook is at present even more encouraging than it was after the original capture of the islands. This does not mean that it is less fateful to the Allies in the southern areas of the Pacific. A further assault must be expected. It will probably be made in greater force than this one. Though pressed back, the Japanese still possess terrific strength and have gained valuable knowledge. The period of suspense has uot been ended by the latest engagement.

The correspondent also says that countries whoso fate is being decided in tlie Solomons should also recognize that so far their champions have been preponderantly American. The landing forces have been completely American and the naval forces Allied in composition to only a minor degree. He says that, as a result of

XJnited States commitments in other theatres of war, the time, must come when other countries in the Pacific theatre will take their part in offensive plans.

Allied countries must, therefore, be prepared for further calls on manpower if the south-eastern Solomons are finally to be held by the Americans and developed into offensive utility. The future offensive stages must be undertaken by the troops who are the best trained for the difficult and hazardous tasks ahead, and this will mean that other troops must be used at least for occupational purposes. lu the meantime, the fight for the Solomons has by no means ended, and •weeks may still elapse before the issue is placed beyond doubt.

Security Conditions

(Received August 27, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 27.

“If the Allies can maintain their offensive in the Solomon Islands and push forward, the security of the south Pacific will be ensured,” said the leader of the Fighting French in the Pacific, Rear-Admiral d’Argetilieu, who has arrived in Sydney from New Caledonia on an official visit. He said he had discussed the war situation with Vice-Admiral Ghormley, and he believed that protection of. the Solomons, which had such an important strategic position, meant also protection for the rest of the South Pacific, particularly New Caledonia. Rear-Admiral d’Argenlieu said he considered that the position in tbe Pacific war bad improved to such an extent as to permit him to make his goodwill visit to Australia and New Zealand. The Allied air chief in the soiith-west Pacific, Brigadier-General Koy<*e, in, an interview today with the San Francisco “Chronicle,” said: “Our boys in Australia feel they are getting good cquipnient, and they are not at all downhearted. At present the Japanese Zero fighter is superior in some ways to our fighter planes, but we know that this io being corrected, and we expect to have better planes than the Japanese very soon.”

He also said that the navy action in the Solomon Islands was supported by the United States Army Air Force, and he declared that the Coral, Sea Battle had proved that the Allied forces in the fiouth-west Pacific were too strong for a Japanese invasion of Australia.