JAP. REINFORCEMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 24293, 7 September 1942, Page 3

JAP. REINFORCEMENTS

HEADING FOR SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC LARGE-SCALE OPERATIONS PREDICTED CN.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, September 8. There is no fresh news of operations in tho Solomons, but reports from Chungking state that strong enemy reinforcements are being rushed to the South-west Pacific. Six largo transports, packed with troops, have been reported in tho Gulf of Tonking, off tho northern coast of Indo-China. Some of the transports are said to have reached Singapore, while others are steaming further south. Some observers believe that these Japanese troops aro being sent to reinforce positions from which strong attacks can he launched against the American-occupied islands in the Solomons. The American news analyst,. Mr H. V. Kaltenborn, predicts that large-scale operations will soon develop in the group. “Apparently the Japanese commander in this area has orders to retake the islands,” he says. Other commentators suggest that tho enemy troop movements aro the prelude to an attack on India. Australian opinion holds to the view that the Japanese must press on in their efforts to cut Australia and New Zealand off from American aid. The small enemy forces flung on some American-occupied islands in the Solomons group are thought likely to be the advance guard of art attempt at a strong counter-invasion backed by naval and air fleets. The Japanese are believed to he utilising the present lull to build up their offensive strength. Now that the American forces have had time to consolidate their positions _in the Solomons, however, there is wide agreement with Sir Archibald Wavell’s opinion that Japan’s run of quick and easy success is over and that she will have to fight hard to hold her South Pacific gains, much less retrieve her recent losses, or extend her conquests. ALLIED AIR ATTACKS.

Allied aircraft are continuing their attacks on Japanese positions in New Guinea. Buna, the base for enemy operations in the Kokoda area, was three times raided by our fighters, and in an attack by bombers on Saturday dispersed aircraft on the aerodrome were destroyed _ and buildings demolished. Anti-Aircraft positions were silenced, and no enemy attempt at interception was made. At Kokoda our fighters strafed the enemy’s forward positions. Here, we lost one plane. No further land fighting in this area has been reported. At Milne Bay Australian land forces are still engaged in destroying the remnants of the enemy. Somewhere off the south-east of New Guinea, marauder medium bombers on Friday attacked an enemy cruiser, but the results were not observed. No explanation has been offered by General MacArthur’s headquarters for the presence of Japanese warships in these waters, and - it has not been stated whether the cruiser was alone or in company with other vessels.

’ .The prolonged absence of enemy air activity in all areas of the Southwest Pacific continues. A single Zero fighter which attempted interception of an Allied reconnaissance unit over Lao on Friday was destroyed. ORDER MISUNDERSTOOD.

A Flying Fartless was ilown to Rabaul with only half of its crew, bombed its target, ami returned safely iu spite of opposition from anti-aircraft lire and enemy fighters. Because the radio operator and three gunners were left behind, the plane was navigated by instruments to the target area. The co-pilot .operated the top gun turret, and the engineer the tail guns, as well as dropping about 40 incendiaries out of the side window. The machine took off with a short crew because an order was misunderstood. It was a night mission, and the navigator said he could get us there and back without the radio. Everyone wanted to go on, so we went,” the pilot explained. “ After completing our mission we were picked up by Zeros, but dodged into a big thundercloud and got clear.”

AMERICANS OUTNUMBERED WASHINGTON, September 5. Representative Eugene Worley, who is returning to Congress after eight months’ duty with the navy in Hawaii and Australia, declared that two things were plentiful in the Pacific war zone; American courage and Japanese fighters. He asserted that the American troops were outnumbered, and the navy was invariably forced to overcome odds in encounters with the enemy fleet. American fighter planes wore inferior in many respects to the Zeros. “American bombers are more than a match for anything the Japanese have,” he said, “ but our boys in pursuit planes have to wait for the Zeros to come down to their altitude before they can get a crack at them. lam determined to see that these boys get equipment to put them on even terms with ' the Japanese.” MR FRASER'S VIEWS OTTAWA, September 5. The New Zealand Prime Minister, Mr Peter Fraser, lias arrived from Washington for a conference with Mr Mackenzie King regarding common Canadian and New Zealand war interests in the Pacific. Mr Fraser plans to visit his brother, Mr Donald Fraser, in Toronto, before returning to "Washington.

On Sunday, Mr Fraser told the Press that the Pa efic situation was improving steadily. “In view of the American successes in the Solomons, and other recent developments, I believe it can be said that the United Nations are on the offensive in the Pacific,” he said. Discussing the recent conferences with Mr Roosevelt and American military and naval commanders, Mr Fraser said they seem certain of the ultimate result, “ but the feeling is that we must be prepared to face great difficulties and hardships.” Mr Fraser expressed confidence that the Germans would be hurled back in the current Egyptian actions, in which New Zealanders were participating.

JAPANESE IN BURMA ATTACKED LONDON, September 5. _ A Now Delhi report states that offensive reconnaissance over Burma is continuing. Japanese attempting to move into the hills have been attacked, and railways and barracks have been bombed. Food and medical supplies have been dropped for refugees in China.