THIRD PHASE SOON

Evening Star, Issue 24286, 29 August 1942, Page 5

THIRD PHASE SOON

CONFLICT’S RISING TEMPO DESIGNS OH PORT MORESBY • N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, August 28. “ The Japanese landing at Milne Bay is a surprising demonstration of the Japanese strength. It shows that even if the Solomons battle succeeds the battle for the Southwest Pacific is not won, and Australia and New Zealand will not be freed from the risk of invasion. The Japanese will have outflanked our Solomons positions before we have finished mopping up if Milne Bay is consolidated by them in defiance of the increasing Allied air power in this theatre.”

Tills comment by the New York ‘ Evening Post ’ military writer indicates the growing realisation that the battles in the Solomons and Eastern New Guinea areas are not distinct engagements, but both part of a major battle for the South Pacific.

Although the second phase of the battle for the South Pacific has_ ended in victory for the Allies, it is considered that a third phase is to come. American \observers believe that the Allied fleet is now massing to the north of the Solomons in hopeful anticipation of a showdown with the main Japanese battle fleet. The outcome of such a battle is confidently awaited, and all the indications suggest that the Allies are anxious to expand the present guerrilla fighting into full-scale naval action. With the Japanese in desperate need of success ti level the score, however, some American observers, including Mr Hanson Baldwin, feel that the enemy may be tempted to launch another thrust against Pearl Harbour or Midway. Such an attack would be a major counter-blow on the Milne Bay principle, designed to distract and divert the Allied offensive forces from the task of rolling back the Japanese. But while the news of the Milne Bay land fighting does not offer a complete picture, war commentators feel that unless it can be strongly supported by the enemy the Allied forces in New Guinea are powerful enough to deal with this new threat. It is pointed out that every effort of the to press inland from their northern New Guinea bases at Lae and Salamaua have been blocked by Allied patrols. In these sectors, as well as at Kokoda, the Japanese seldom venture abroad in parties of fewer than 50. but they have been continually repulsed. The Japanese hold on New Guinea is still decidedly not a stranglehold, and it they are finally completely repulsed in the Solomons and'their supplv lines to New Guinea menaced it will be a very precarious hold indeed.

The new enemy landing‘at Milne Bay is symptomatic as much of the rising tempo of the Pacific war as of Janan’s steady purnose to reduce Port Moresby before continuing the drive south. The major Allied successes recently encourage observers here to the honeful view that the Japanese may have stuck out his neck just a liftle too far. Long and arduous fighting by land, i air, and sea, however, is recognised to be in prospect.