PUZZLING ASPECT

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 22, 21 October 1942, Page 5

PUZZLING ASPECT

Size Of United States Garrison

(Received October 20, 9.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 19.

“The reason why military reinforcements were not sent to the Solomon Islands long ago puzzles military strategists,” reports Drew Pearson, the “Washington Merry-Go-Round” columnist, pointing out that General MacI Arthur has had sufficient troops in Australia that could be spared for the Solomons. “Unfortunately, there is no unity of command between the Army and Navy iin the South Pacific,” he says. “Genferal MacArthur runs his own show in tAustralia, and there is apparently rejluctance in the War Department or the | White House to give General MacAr- ' thur orders.

"Recently the United States naval commander in New Zealand flew to l Australia and had a profitable visit to I General MacArthur, and it is hoped that that friendly visit will have real results.” , In a coast-to-coast broadcast, Mr. Pearson emphasizes the possibility . that units of the American Navy, always desirous of luring the Japanese tfrom their main bases z are lying in wait with large forces. He says that much speculation exists as to what is happening at the mysterious enemy base of Truk in the Carolines. Only 1300 miles north of Guadalcanal, Truk has been stated to bold a garrison of 250,000 troops, according to this commentator.

Pearson makes the startling,charge that ’ early tnaval /losses in

the Solomons had some o£ the aspects of another Pearl Harbour. He declares that when the three American heavy cruisers, the Astoria, Quincy, and Vincennes, and the Australian cruiser Canberra were sunk on August 9, the American ships were not ready for action in spite of warning from reconnaissance units that a powerful Japanese flotilla was steaming against them at 30 knots. “The American commander, who had under-estimated the speed of the enemy approach was aihore conferring with the commander of the marines when the attack was launched against the helpless American ships at 1500 yards’ range,” he says. “These losses gave the Japanese naval, superiority in the area.”