SOUTH PACIFIC OUTLOOK

Grey River Argus, 1 June 1943, Page 5

SOUTH PACIFIC OUTLOOK

U.S. ADMIRAL’S REVIEW

Allies Have Initiative INTERVIEW AT WELLINGTON. [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, May 31. The Governor-General, Sir C. Newall, to-day received Rear Admiral T. S. Wilkinson of the United States Navy, who is visiting Well'ingtn. Rear Admiral Theodore Stark Wilkinson. Deputy Commander to Admiral Halsey in the South Pacific, when dealing with plans in the area at an interview to-night, said: “We have the initiative, and we shall push from here. We shall push from New Guinea, and we shall push the “sons of guns” back home, if we can. The relations between the South Pacific and South-west Pacific commands are being closely co-ord-inated. They are cordial and co-op-erative. They ar e so closely linked that they must be.” The Rear-Admiral added that the successful United States action in the Aleutian Islands would, in his opinion, distract the Japanese in these areas, and might cause a withdrawal’ of some of their forces to strengthen their defences in that direction. . “It will not distract our offensive down here, I assure you,” Admiral Wilkinson commented. He continued that Admiral Halsey had said, last January, that he considered New Zealand’s position to be reasonably safe. Since then , they had consolidated their position by the capture of Guadalcanar and other islands. They had increased their strength on the ground, and particularly in the air. They could detect, through those air forces, he said,, any Japanese advance in strength, and they could, Admiral Wilkinson thought, intercept and break it up with land and aircraft-carrier based aircraft, Admiral Wilkinson said that Jaoan’s shipping position was critical. “I believe,' 1 he said, “it is her most critical point. She was not too well supplied when the war began, and what she has been able to seize from France and from other countries is far less than she has lost; and her shipbuilding facilities are limited.” In his estimation Japan had only from 50 to! 60 submarines now. The Admiral said that Rabaul had undoubtedly been developed as a submarine base, and if Japan liked to divert ail of her submarines to that area, the/Allies might have an increase in her attack. It was probable they should get continued activity by the Japanese submarines, but. he would not venture to say whether it would decrease or increase. The main conv'ov route from the United States had been singularly free from losses. There had, he said, been some minor, and regrettable losses in the South Pacific.

When first the operations started, there had been difficulties with . the ■quick turn-around of ships. The facilities for discharge in the Islands were, then poor, but they now had been improved, and the turn-around was much quicker, with a result that the shipping position was correspondingly improved. There had been, the Admiral said, allocations of additional ships to run, so that the position now was quite satisfactory. He had heard no criticism of the speed of turn-around in New Zealand, but said that any improvement which could be effected would be to the good. Admiral Wilkinson described a new type of craft which had been developed for the carriage and quick discharge of material in landing operations. These vessels, he said, were of a shallow draft forward, though deep aft, and they could run against beaches where they were not too. shallow. Their bows then opened sideways, and a landing platform was let down between the doors. “Over this platform,” said the Admiral, “tanks, trucks, or what you will can run straight on to the land. In addition, on their decks, these craft carry smaller craft, which are launched by cantina- the motor craft sideways, and. sliding them off. They are tank-carrving landing craft, which would otherwise, be unable to reach the combat, area.” He did not disclose, what form or direction the Allied offensive would take. He said, in replv to a question as to the adootion of island hoppino- technique, that it was not safe to leave an armed and equipped enemy in one’s rear without taking steps to occupy or neutralize the territory which the enemy occupied in one’s path. He was asked what effect air raids on Japan, such as were foreshadowed by Mr. Churchill in Washington last week, were likely to have on the Japanese prosecution of the wgj in the outer defence ring. Admiral Wilkinson replied that it would undoubtedly cause a withdrawal of forces to assist in defence against further raids. He was not saying, however, anything as to such raids being carried out. < He added that there had been a diminution of Japan’s cruiser strength by at least one-third, and possibly one-half, since the beginning of hostilities, and in battleships she was n little worse off. • She had lost about three of the latter, and in the Admiral’s opinion, not mor e than two of the bigger types building at the beginning of the war were so far in commission.