The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISRPRNE, SATURDAY, AUG 29, 1942 PACIFIC CONFLICT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20875, 29 August 1942, Page 2

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISRPRNE, SATURDAY, AUG 29, 1942 PACIFIC CONFLICT

The recent Allied successes in the Pacific—and they are probably more complete and far-reaching than has yet been disclosed—may appear to have been offset somewhat by the new Japanese moves in New Guinea. The importance of the landing that has been effected at Milne Bay should not be overlooked, but neither should it be over-estimated. All the indications are that it is less a part of the carefully-prepared Japanese plans than an attempt to counteract the dislocation of them. It could spring from one of two motives, or from both. In the first place, it might be another attempt to overcome the Allied resistance at Port Moresby, the base which has played such an important part in thwarting the designs of the. Japanese. The enemy has been unable effectively to attack the port either from land or sea while the Allies haye made remarkably good use of it for attacking the Japanese from the air. The landing at Milne Bay brings them within 220 miles of Port Moresby and opens -up a new avenue of attack. The second possible motive is to divert the Allies from their successful operations in the Solomon Islands area. There can be no question that the enemy has suffered an extremely severe blow in this region and since he cannot tpake a direct recovery he is probably seeking compensations elsewhere. Whichever be thp real motive for the Milne Bay operation; therefore, it is clear that it is a defensive move rather than an offensive one—a move that has been forced upon the Japanese by developments which were not of his designing. He has been compelled by circumstances to make yet another attempt to capture Port Moresby, not so much because of its value to him as because, in Allied hands, it is a serious thorn in his side. The scope of the operations at Milne Bay is not yet apparent, but what is clear is that the success or failure of this landing will depend, not so much on what happens on the tip of New Guinea, but on the result of the far more important activities in the Solomons. If the Allies complete their hold on the Solomons, as they, give every indication of doing, Milne Bay will be useless to the enemy, even if it is possible for him to hold it. On the other hand, if the Japanese were to succeed in recapturing the Solomons, then Milne Bay, except as a base for advancing against port Moresby, would give them few strategical advantages which they would not already possess. In the meantime, the enemy is not yet established at IVlilne Bay and the assurance ffrat the Aides were prepared for tire new landing holds out some hope that it will be. possible to repulse him. What occurs in this new theatre, however, is cf trifling importance compared with the outcome of the battle for' the Solomons, and of that there is more encouraging news. There seems to be little doubt that the Allies are firmly established on more than one of the islands. They seem already to be making good use of the

aerodrome on Guadalcanar which the Japanese had already -prepared for them. Earlier in the week, the Jap* anese forces were reported to have been withdrawing from this region and now comes the news that their surface forces have been withdrawn from the Tulagi area. These statements are somewhat cryptic, but the inference is that they have abandoned their attempts to make fresh landings on the islands and that it is their transports, rather than their naval vessels, which have been withdrawn. It must not be assumed that the Japanese have yet surrendered these waters to tire Allied fleet. On the contrary, they are almost bound to strive for a naval victory since without one their whole position in the south-west Pacific will be gravely challenged. So far, the naval conflict has gone very much against them and their losses have been heavy. Whether they can turn the tables remains to be seen, but the indications are that their position, far from being strengthened, has been considerably weakened.

The developments of the past week or two once again emphasise the vital importance of air power, and here, too, the Allies appear to have obtained a marked superiority. Much of the success that has been secured has certainly been due to their attacks from the air. In the Solomons battle itself, aircraft appear to have played a rweater part than warships, while the indirect assistance given by the Allied bombing of Japanese air bases was probably far greater than is generally realised. It is significant that at Milne Bay the Japanese landing. probably for the first time in this war, was made without aiy protection. This may be a measure ■of Japanese desperation or it may be an indication of the effectiveness of the attacks made on their air bases and their aircraft carriers'. Whatever the reason, it is one of the most encouraging signs in the Pacific struggle. There is evidence of Allied air supremacy, too, m the number of Japanese planes brought down in various engagements and the comparative smallness of the Allied losses. Everything suggests that Japanese strength in the air is steadily diminishing while the striking po>ver of the Allied air forces is growing from day to day. This factoi, combined with the naval successes and the offensive spirit of the Allies, encourages the belief that the tide in the Pacific has definitely turned.