Late News MAY HAVE COME TO CLOSE GRIPS

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

Late News MAY HAVE COME TO CLOSE GRIPS

U.S. And Enemy Navies

-(Received August 28, 12.20 a.m.) illy Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright > (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, August 27.

A major setback for the Japanese Navy within the next few days could reduce the enemy sea power 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 tljat "Japan has already lost, her naval .supremacy iu the south-west Pacific” is regarded as premature. Tlie pictures of the lighting are far from complete, but American naval communiques are known to be ultraconservative and tlie latest statement that the “results of the light so far ijre encouraging” is accepted as giving good grounds for optimism. American observers report that tlie sea and air battle is apparently raging with increased fury, in spite of tlie withdrawal of one Japanese force. Heavy enemy units are thought to be still in the battle, which so far has served to confirm again tlie superiority of land-based aircraft in sucii operations. This advantage lies strongly with tlie Allies. Aeriiil forces alone were used in the buttle engagement uj> till Monday, except for one destroyer attack against' shore targets. However, observers believe tlie Japanese Fleet may now have eome to close gri]is with the American Fleet for the first time since the war begun in the I’acilie. It is pointed out that Japan needs desperately to regain her initiative, and she is thus likely Io accept the issue sought and provoked by tile A U rns before the American consolidation of the southern Solomons is completed. Once the Allies have cstnblislwl numbers of airfields in the area Japan’s chances of retaking the islands will have dwindled to vanishing point. Dive-Bomber Attacks. American forces in the Solomons are stated to he using Buecaneeer and Helldiver dive-bombers and Avenger torpedobombers against the Japanese .ships. American predictions are that the enemy losses will at least equal those in the Midwav Island battle. • Air Arthur Hale, a radio news analyst, says the Allies have regained the Pacific

naval superiority which they lost at Pearl Harbour, ami he adds: "licit before we can say tlie Pacific is ours we must smash the Japanese Fleet in its home waters. The opinion here that Japan is still at great strength in the south-west Pacific is sharply underlined by the latest enemy lauding in New Guinea. “We should not believe that the powerful and persistent enemy will tamely allow the reverses in the Solomons to discourage* him from further adventures in the South Seas,” says tlie Sydney “Sun” in a leader. “He still has his forward bases in the Archipelago and on New Guinea itself. The latest landing proves his intention to increase their number and so encircle our one outpost iu this region - Port Moresby.” Pointing out that the enemy can speedily and powerfully reinforce his sea, air, and land forces from the bases in tbe Marshalls and Carolines, the “Sun adds: "If we may look upon the lust fortnights success us the turn of the tide, the flood of Japanese conquest may still send the spume of its heavier waves into channels closer to Australia mid New Zealand. Before the full ebb many battles will have to be fought by land, sea, ami air.”