MANY BUILDING

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 29, 29 October 1942, Page 5

MANY BUILDING

U.S. Carrier Forces GREAT PRESENT NEED (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Australian Correspondent.) (Received October 28, 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 28The loss of the aircraft-carrier Wasp and the severe damaging of another United States aircraft-carrier in the Solomons battle are grievous blows to a branch of the American Navy that was relatively weak when hostilities broke out, says the “Sydney Morning Herald’s” military correspondent. America entered the war with seven carriers and 11 building. Since then three have been destroyed, together with the obsolete carrier-tender Langley. Against these losses, three new carriers have been launched this year, and the number under construction was increased last month to 15. In addition, it has been announced that conversion of 35 cruisers and merchant ships to carry aircraft is under way. “Though the United 'States Navy’s total strength in vessels carrying aircraft is now probably greater than at any other time since Pearl Harbour, neither this fact nor the extent of the enemy losses should detract from the conclusion that the paramount need of the American Navy is to have larger quantities of vessels that can serve as carriers,” declares the writer. “Since the wastage rate of carriers is so high and since so many advantages accrue to their use under Pacific conditions, much of the future of the war in the Pacific will depend upon the result of the race for carrier construction, at least till a day when ultra-long-range bombers will relegate sea-borne aircraft to a less important role in the war.” No Balanced Picture. Australian commentators are increasingly joining those in America in expressing uneasiness at the repeated withholding of disagreeable information about, the fighting in the Solomon Islands. “No true and balanced picture of the Solomons scene can be obtained if minor successes are promptly stressed while 'serious losses are not acknowledged till weeks or months afterward,” says the "Sydney Morning Herald” in an editorial. “But even more disturbing to public opinion both here and in the United States are the reports of continuing friction between the American Army and Navy leaders. So deplorable a rivalry must have a far more damaging effect on the campaign than the further disability of the divided command.” The United States has 13 big air-craft-carriers under construction and designed to carry the fight to the enemy, Captain Lovette, Naval Director of Public Relations, told the Advertising Club, at Washington. He added that the carrier is one of the most important weapons for offensive action on the seven fronts where the United States is engaged. Captain Lovette also said that three Liberty ships are being delivered daily to the navy, and the construction time has been reduced from 141 to 60 days.

BRITISH FLEET

Helping Battle From ; Indian Ocean NEW YORK, October 27. “The outlook in the Solomons is decidedly uncertain,” writes Admiral Yates Stirling, former Chief of Staff of the United States Fleet. “The important thing is for us to regain the offensive,” he declares. “It is not pleasant to continue on the defensive in an action of the magnitude assumed by the Solomons battle. “These appear to be the facts: “(1) Our fleet, on which depends the fate of our land, forces ou Guadalcanal, is menaced by a, superior Japanese naval force, including three or more battleships. Admiral Yamamoto is able to throw the bulk of his naval strength into the struggle, and he appears determined to take back the Solomons regardless of the cost: “(2) There has so far been no indication that the British battleships Warspite, Royal Sovereign and Resolution. will enter the actions in the Solomons. London announced that these ships were in the Indian Ocean, and the best guess is that they are intended to force a withdrawal of Japanese ships from the Solomons to defend Rangoon and Singapore. “Bad weather can be expected soon in the Solomons, which will offer additional cover for enemy transports.”

U.S. Effort In Asia

(Received October 28, 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 27.

The accelerated American bombing raids ranging over south China, IndoCliina, Thailand, and Burma are designed to relieve the Japanese pressure on the Solomons and New Guinea, says the Chungking correspondent of the “New York Times,” quoting observers there.

The Chine.se military spokesman declared that the Japanese had been shifting troops and planes southward to meet the Allies’ island offensive. Chinese planes 'bombed a Japanese air base at Yuncheng, in Shansi Province, Chungking reports today. Two Japanese fighters were shot down at Mengtze, in Yunnan Province. R.A.F. bombers, with fighter escort, yesterday attacked the Japanese base at Akyab, says a New Delhi communique. Buildings were bombed and fires started. Our planes followed this up with low-level machinegun attacks’. No R.A.F. aircraft is missing.