PACIFIC OFFENSIVE

Evening Star, Issue 24281, 24 August 1942, Page 3

PACIFIC OFFENSIVE

MAJOR ENGAGEMENTS ANTICIPATED

HIGH GOST OF SUCCESS

t'N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent)

SYDNEY. August 2,‘j. The cost of the Allied success in the Solomons has been high, and is likely to be a continuing one. This warning is sounded by observers here, who also foresee ;the possibility that the expedition may be soon followed by a great fleet and. air engagement profoundly affecting the Pacific war. Australian commentators view the newest raid on enemy-occupied Makiu Island, in the Gilberts, as evidence that there will be no let-up in America’s Pacific offensive.

The Washington columnist, Mr Drew Pearson, says that some optimistic naval facts lie behind the Solomons battle. Japan lias suffered severe cruiser losses, her strength having been cut in half, or perhaps even further depleted. She has also lost about half of her aircraft carriers. On the American side, repairs to the ships sunk or damaged in Pearl Harbour have been miraculously swift. Less palatable deductions of Japanese strength have been drawn by Mr Alexander Kirafly, Far Eastern expert and author, who believes that Japan has prepared a series of “ mock defeats ” in the Pacific to delude the United Nations. In an article in the. magazine ‘ Asia ’ he says that Japan's heavy losses in the Coral Sea. Midway and Aleutian Islands, and off Australia may be designed to create an illusion of weakness in the minds of the Allies. He describes Japan’s failure to conquer ” China as the first example of her effort to make the United Nations believe she is weak.

“To American eyes Midway was a decisive victory,” he states, “ because the Japanese wore driven away from that strategically-importaqt island and the enemy losses were far greater than those of the Americans, but Japan probably considers such conflicts in the light of the whole conflict. If she should find that they tie down American battle squadrons in Hawaiian and East Australian waters she might oven set down such actions as Midway as strategic victories. Mr Kirafly adds that, while Australia and New Zealand arc unquestionably “ the ultimate Japanese objectives,” their conquest may not take precedence over India. “ More than 100 airfields have sprung into existence in Australia,” he says, “and these are undoubtedly well stocked with planes. But few, if any, of these planes could interfere with enemy movements 'in the northern basin of the Indian Ocean. If the Japanese airfields between Timor and Now Guinea wore not heavily supplied with planes the Allies would become suspicions, and accordingly the Japanese have kept them well supplied.” Major Fielding Eliot emphasises in the new York ‘ Herald-Tribune ’ that American successes in the Solomons are no more than a good beginning. “ The next United States move is likely to he directed against Bougainville, where the Japanese at present are in considerable strength,” he says, “ hut even Bougainville will only be a second step in an operation which must include within its objectives all the Japanese positions on the north-cast coast of New Guinea and the Bismarck and Admiralty Islands. Until these points arc retaken wo cannot consider onr situation decisively improved in the South-western Pacific, and not until then will wo eliminate the Japanese from every base from which they can threaten Port Moresby and the cities and seaports on the east coast of Australia.”