CLOSE AT HAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20874, 28 August 1942, Page 3

CLOSE AT HAND

PACIFIC SHOW-DOWN TEST OF SEA-POWER SOLOMONS STRATEGY (11.30) NEW YORK, Aug. 27. 1 ‘ A Pacific show-down seems to be ut hand,” says the Now York Times' military correspondent, Major ‘Hanson Baldwin, commenting on the Solomons campaign, ‘‘which may alter the finely drawn balance of power in the Paeilic, thus affecting the entire course of the war in the Pacific theatre.” , Major Baldwin explains that it is clear'that the Marines and the Navy are tenaciously clinging to their footholds on Guadalcanal’ and other southern Solomons Islands, while the American air force is operating from one oi more of the recently conquered fields. ‘ ‘ This big asset is enhanced by the proximity of the Solomons to ottei Allied bases in Australia, New Hebrides, New Caledonia and elsewhere, whence long-range bombers are supporting our naval forces. ‘ ‘ The fact that both sides are throwing considerable naval forces into the action stresses the strategic importance of the battle because the Solomons and Dieppe proved that invasion and occupation are possible only il naval superiority can be maintained. Therefore the Japanese attacks on Guadalcanal' and the abortive Japanese landing attempts are considerably less important than the naval clash.” Concluding, Major Baldwin says: ‘‘The Solomons may be the preface to other action elsewhere. Since June, when Japan chose Midway and the Hawaiian Islands as her objective, she has not struck anywhere until now, but the Japanese do not entertain a passive concept of war. The Coral Sea battle preceded Midway— The Solomons may precede an attempt against Hawaii unless successive defeats have too greatly depleted the Japanese Navy.”