JAPANESE RIPOSTE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 285, 31 August 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE RIPOSTE

Can Be Expected At Any Time (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received August 30, 10.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 30. New Zealand reports published here that a major battle has flared up again iu the Solomons are not confirmed either here or in Washington. Though the enemy forces have now withdrawn, Washington officials admit that a large-scale enemy sea and air assault preparatory to an attempt to land substantial numbers of Japanese troops on the islands recently captured by the Allies must be expected at any moment. c The light enemy forces successfully attacked by our air forces on Thursday may have been the spearhead for a new attack. While the latest successes are heartening and indicate that the Allied forces are now firmly entrenched on the islands they have taken, observers caution that the Japanese losses so far represent only a small portion of her sea strength. A writer in the New York “Post.' commenting on the admonition of a high American Navy official against overplaying the Solomons, says: “Our successes to date have been relatively minor, with a major showdown still to come. The Japanese are certain to launch a counter-attack on a grand scale to attempt to recover the positions in the Tulagi area. So far the enemy attacks have been more in the nature of reconnaissances in force than full scale efforts to defeat and dislodge the Anieflcan forces.” “Japan Canont Halt.”

The “Times’ says that Japan cannot halt in the Pacific islands and hope to hold her ill-gotten gains. “So long as Australia is held and supplied by the United Nations, Japan will always be in danger,” the paper says. “Japan must, therefore, endeavour to forestall the riposte by a successful invasion of the Australian continent before the United Nations can assemble enough force for its defence as a base for their own subsequent attack.” ’Whatever setbacks she may experience, Hie Milne Bay landing proves

that Japan is inevitably committed to an advance against Australia, “The Times” adds.

Australian observers see no reasons for altered views on the south Pacific situation, which is regarded more hopefully than for many weeks past. It has always been recognized here that the major test still liev ahead, but the Allied successes in recent operations give reason for optimism. It is felt (here that the changed tone of s<ome British and American comment is a result of tho fact that these distant commentators tiro beginning to view the Pacific situation with belaedly increasing realism, rather than that new grounds have arisen for pessimism. . ~ It is pointed cut that the inevitable and pending south Pacific showdown is sought by the Allies* and not by the Japanese. Our gains in the preliminary operations give solid basis for hopes of further successes iu the arduous and costly struggle ahead.