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TOUCH AND GO

Balance Of Power In Pacific GRliyi SOLOMONS ORDEAL (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received October 23, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 22. If the battle of the Solomon Islands is measured by the fierce i resolution and courage of our men, there can be but one outcome—complete and final victory, the Undersecretary of the Navy, Mr. James Forrestal, told a Labour Relations Conference held, by the Navy Department. He said that the balance of power in the Pacific was a touch-and-go affair, and could shift almost daily. The American forces in the Solomons were fighting without rest in black, thick jungle, in the blackest kind of night. “They have been bombed by day and shelled by night,” he added. “They have been attacked from the jungle both by day and night.” Mr. Forrestal, who recently inspected bases in the 'South-west Pacific, said that the job of supplying the United States troops in the Solomons was one of the most difficult tasks undertaken iby any navy in the history of the world. The Americans were working there from improvised bases hewn from the jungles and impassable territory, and the supplies were on the catch-as-catch-can basis. Mr. Forrestal eaid he believed the operations in the Pacific had kept Japan from attacking Russia this summer. Minor Enemy Thrust. A Navy Department communique states: “No report of any material change In the military situation in the Solomons was received on October 20. A minor enemy thrust against the western flank of our troop positions on Guadalcanal was repulsed.” “During the night of October 21-22 an enemy bomber was shot down over Guadalcanal. The bomber is believed to have been on a reconnaissance mission and was .destroyed by antiaircraft fire. “Our aircraft continue to be active seeking out and bombing the enemy troops and supply concentrations on Guadalcanal.” Confidence that the United States would hold its ground in the Solomons was expressed in Pearl. Harbour today by Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Magrum, commander of the divebomber squadron on Guadalcanal, who witnessed a phase of the current operations. He issued a warning, however, that surface craft and land forces were needed as much as planes. In military operations the forces must be balanced. The United States must have land, sea, and air superiority to hold the island.

STIFF FIGHTING IN v PAPUA

Aerial Aid Difficult (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received October 23,11.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 23. Severe tropical storms are hampering the Allied offensive near Eora Creek village, where the Japanese are fighting grimly to hold their last position in the heights of the Owen Stanley Ranges. But in spite of the incessant downpour attacks are still being pressed home. Yesterday a slight further advance was made ' after frontal and flanking assaults. If the present rains are the beginning of the New Guinea rainy season (normally due early in November), the task of maintaining Allied supplies over the slippery, muddy trails, will be seriously complicated. The recent Allied gains have been made only after stiff fighting, but the extent of the casualties on either side has not been indicated. The spokesman at General MacArthur’s headquarters said today that it was difficult to provide aerial support for our troops at the present stage of the operations because of the closeness of the combat and the nature of the country, combined with the weather. In the early stages of the Allied advance, when the opposing forces were usually well separated, enemy positions and supply lines were heavily strafed, but as the two forces have drawn together close air support has entailed too many hazards to be practicable. After a month’s respite to the day, Port Moresby was bombed early last night. Taking advantage of a moon, three enemy planes dropped their bombs without causing casualties or material damage.

JAPANESE FLEET

Concentration Also At Rabaul (By Telegraph,—Press Assu.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received October 23, 11.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 22. Australian-based medium bombers early yesterday morning without loss dropped 10 tons of -bombs on a number of ships dispersed in a wide roadstead between Buin and Faisi, in the north Solomons. Bad weather prevented observation of the results. Aerial reconnaissance has revealed considerable enemy shipping round Rabaul as well as in the northern Solomons waters. The “New York Times” Washington correspondent emphasizes that these aggregations of Japanese warships, auxiliaries, and transports are large. “The transports are unquestionably carrying troops which are scheduled to follow up the victory which the Japanese hope to gain in a sea action," he says. Jap Hesitation. "The outcome of such an action is apparently being awaited by the enemy troops on Guadalcanal before launching a major offensive against the United States positions. At the same time the enemy appears to be hesitating to enter into contest against the American Navy as long as the weather conditions permit free operation of air forces, since the American pilots and planes, specially dive-bombers and torpedo planes, have demonstrated their decided superiority. “However, such planes require fairly high ceilings, and the rainy season which is now ojjening may ground these planes, after which the Japanese night be bale to achieve momentary superiority, in which event they will obviously try for a decisive engagement.'’

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19421024.2.46

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 25, 24 October 1942, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
864

TOUCH AND GO Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 25, 24 October 1942, Page 7

TOUCH AND GO Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 25, 24 October 1942, Page 7

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