QUESTION OF SUPPLY

Evening Star, Issue 24332, 22 October 1942, Page 5

QUESTION OF SUPPLY

WILL DECIDE OUTCOME OF BATTLE ALLIES NOT LOST MASTERY OF SEAS CN.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent) SYDNEY, October 21. Damage to the Japanese fleet in the Northern Solomons waters and to enemy airfields at Buin is believed to have been caused in a raid by medium bombers of General MacArthur’s command early on Wednesday morning. The raid was on. a smaller scale than earlier attacks by Flying Fortresses. Reconnaissance has show r n that enemy ships were beached and still smoking irom the big attacks on Sunday morning. The factor of supply, is engaging the increasing attention of news analysts reviewing the situation in the Solomons. Ability to maintain a flow of naval and air reinforcements will decide the outcome of the battle and mastery of the South Pacific, declares the American commentator, Mr Raymond Gram Swing, who sees the opposing land forces on Guadalcanal as cast in a minor role in the struggle. “It remains to bo seen how much naval strength each side is able to bring into play,” he says. “We can derive satisfaction from the statement Fiat in daylight on Saturday our naval '■'ircos bombarded Japanese shore positions while enemy ships shelled onr positions at night. This shows wo have not lost mastery of the seas around the islands, as some had feared—otherwise wo would he doing night shelling and the enemy day shelling.” ALLIED DIFFICULTIES. Mr Swing ipoiuts out that the equality of the naval'losses up to date should prove an evciKnal advantage, “but this is proving difficult,” he says, “ presumably due to lack of aircraft cover of a" suitable type, a deficiency which must he somewhat paralysing Admiral Ghonnley’s naval forces.” , Most of the commentators concede that the number of troops at Guadalcanal is of secondary importance to the United States, t\ho can replace losses more rapidly than the enemy. In a despatch from Pearl Harbour, the London ‘ News Chronicle 1 correspondent, Mr Patrick Maitland, also emphasises that the battle for Guadalcanal .will depend on the ability of the United States Navy to get supplies through to the marines and to the air and naval strengths. The commander of the United States Marine Corps in the Pacific says: “.My hoys will keep their toehold in the Solomons till hell freees if they get proper airland sea support.” Urging that supplies for the Americans on Guadalcanal should be rushed from Australia, the Sydney ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ I says the battle for the Solomons may not be won with warshins alone, hut with supply ships. “ Australia, only 1.150 miles from the Solomons, is the place whence war ma-

terial and food should go,” says the paper, pointing out that America is 6,000 miles away from the battle area. The New Y’ork newspaper ‘ P.AI.’ reports that the Japanese on Guadalcanal outnumber the American forces by two to one is accepted with considerable reserve. The number of enemy troops is regarded here as of secondary importance in a battle in which the major issue must be decided at sea. “ ff we gain complete control of the sea in the Solomons, the Japanese forces in Guadalcanal will bo in a trap,” the ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ points out. The bigger the forces the bigger the catch, hut if the Japanese control the sea. the trap will be on our foot.”