The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1942. TURN OF THE TIDE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20876, 31 August 1942, Page 2

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES” GISBORNE, MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1942. TURN OF THE TIDE

From nearly every major "batliefront the week-end has brought ‘fin improvement in the news. Rejoicing, however, would'be premature, but it does seem that there is ample ground for sober confidence in regard to the future. “• MoSt encouraging'—perhaps because it' was least expected—are the better reports from the Russian fronts. On the Stalingrad sector, the German advance has at ' least' been checked and at some points the Russians appear 1 to have seized the initiative. For the time being, too much importance should not be attached to this favourable dfevelPpWiciit. It has to be borne in mind that the invaders have made' one of the < most remarkable and exhausting advances in the history of warfare and it seemed Incredible 'that it could be maintained for much longer. The fact remains, nevertheless, that they • have been compelled at least to' pause earlier thaw'thfey had •'intended A arid before their objective Wa's “reached. This may be' sufficient to disorganise the whole of their plans just at the most critical stage of the campaign. On the central sector, the Russian advance, in turn, appears to have lost its momentum, but the initiative has been retained and the pressure here, and also that which has developed on the Leningrad front, will necessarily involve some changes in the disposition of the enemy forces everywhere.

From the Middle East' there is less news, but the absence of it is heartening rather than otherwise. The major operations predicted for last week did not materialise and it has been sug-gested-that-they -will now be’deferred for a month,'Although just l why has never been made' clear. The delay, however; should be advantageous to the" Allies. The position in this theatre is somewhat peculiar. When the'-’ Allies first' fell back into Egypt they were assisted by the proximity of their bases 'and'the Speed with which they could bring up reinforcements and supplies. The comparative nearness of the Axis source of supply, however, meant that this advantage would soon be overcome and there can be no doubt that a steady stream of supplies has been reaching General Rommel. More'than enough lime has now elapsed since the Allied reverse in Libya for supplies to have arrived via the long Cape route and it is probable that the Allies are again better situated than the enemy. During the past week they seem to have had the best of things in the isolated land skirmishes and they have maintained the offensive in the air. There is ample evidence of the growth of the- Allied 1 aif strength and 'thd repeated' attacks from bases in Egypt and Malta must be' imposing a severe strain on the transport which is so vital to the enemy.

The brightest' picture of ail—possibly because it is the clearest arid most definite—comes from the southwest Pacific. It is’not ah unrelieved picture, since the latest 'reports! indicate a more serious situation in the New Guinea area. The Japanese have been able to land reinforcements at Milne Bay and there is a growing threat to Port Moresby, which has proved such an important base to the Allies. This danger must not be disregarded in any appraisement of the situation, but for the time ' being it need not be emphasised. In any case, it' is more than offset by the disclosures of the completeness of the success that has been achieved in the Solomon Islands, which, in many respects, are far more vital to the operations in the Pacific than is New Guinea. The official statement now issued from Washington confirms the earlier impression that the victory in the Solomons was far greater than was at first indicated. The' United States forces are now in control of six of the islands of the group, in-

eluding all the most important ones. \ In the process of occupation they have Inflicted far heavier 1 losses' on 1 the eneitty—on land'-and sea and in the air—than they themselVes silstained, and although their’possession may still be disputed there dofes - ndt seem to' be the slightest doubt that they secured the upper hand. The Japanese claim to have won the first' two naval engagements with the Allied forces and compelled them -?., withdraw. The Value of the claim can be judged from the simultaneou:; admission that 10,000 American troops are established ill the'Solomons. Just how thfey got there; in view of the alleged ' Japanesfe naval superiority, Toklo 'has not l attempted to . explain. One thing upon which there seems to be agreement is the ‘'ferocity of the fighting' wherever Americans and Japanese clash, a point that is emphasised by the report that nvo survivors were left out of 300 Japanese on Makin Island and ‘3O out- of 700 who attempted a' landing in the Solomons. At the other side of the Pacific, in China, the Japanese continue to withdraw from Chekiang'and Kiangsi and further-south the Chinese are making a new advance. The operations in this theatre provide another enigma, but there is no apparent reason why the Japanese retreat should hot be accepted at its face value. The important point about it is that they have relinquished aerodromes from which the Japanese mainland, only 700 miles away, can be effectively bombed.' It is hardly credible that they have done this except under extreme pressure from one quarter or another. In all the main theatres of war' the next few’ weeks ape likely td see far-reaching developments and there seems'to be rio reason, at the moment, 'why. they' should not be awaited with confidence.