Late News

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 17, 15 October 1942, Page 6

Late News

MARINES AGAINST JAPANESE Nimitz Pleased With All He Saw

TEMPERED OPTIMISM (By Telegraph. —Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 15, 1.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Pctober 14.

Reporting on his recent flying visit to Guadalcanal and other Allied bases in the South Pacific, Admiral Nimitz at the Press conference at Pearl Harbour expressed the. utmost confidence that the United States forces in the Solomon Islands would consolidate their holdings and continue the Pacific offensive begun there.

"I don’t mean we have the Japanese on the run or have the upper hand, but I have always been optimistic about the eventual'result of the war, and after actually seeing the people on the spot and talking to them I have reason to continue to be optimistic,” he said. “Everywhere I have found high morale and a fine spirit of co-opera-tion. They are all working in high spirits from early morning to late at night to improve their positions. I am satisfied in every way with what I stiw.

“Tlie Japanese now realize that in opposing the American forces in that area, principally the marines, they are meeting people as tough as they are themselves. AVe are just as well equipped and well trained in jungle fighting as the Japanese. They are brave, resourceful and experienced fighters, but now they are meeting people with the same characteristics and are suffering losses accordingly.” Admiral Nimitz declared that the continued sinkings of Japanese cargo ships were obviously affecting their supply problem in the Pacific, and he pointed out that it is just as far from Tokio to Guadalcanal as from Pearl Harbour to Guadalcanal. It would be over-optimistic to say that the' Japanese shipping has been strained, but they were losing lots of ships, and the United States submarines were doing their duty day and night