NAVIES IN SOLOMONS

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 242, 14 October 1942, Page 5

NAVIES IN SOLOMONS

ENEMY RADIO REPORTS MEAGRE ALLIED INFORMATION.

P.A, Special.

SYDNEY, Oct. 13.

Tha Japanese navy has been engaged by Allied forces near the Solomons, according to Paris radio. The results of the engagement wih bei announced soon, says the radio, quoting the Japanese Navy spokesman. There is no news here of such a battle, but Australian observers generally share the belief of London and Washington military and naval experts that a- large-scale battle is developing in the Solomons. Japanese reinforcements being landed on Guadalcanar Island under cover of darkness are believed to include veteran jungle fighters from, New Guinea as, well as troops from China. The vital importance of the battle of the Solomons to Australia, and New Zealand is stressed editorially by the Sydney Daily Telegraph today. The paper says: "If the Japanese drove the Americans from Guadalcanar the eastern coast of Australia and the Allied supply route to this country and New Zealand would be open to a, fianking attack. The meagre information available suggests that the enemy' s, plan is to concentrate all his, available southwest Pacific forces in the Solomons. Such a mcve could tilt the balance of power in favour of the Japanese." NEED FOR REINFORCEMENTS. Emphasising the need for strong allied reinforcements on Guadalcanar, the Telegraph adds: "It is not suggested that the enemy is prevcnting American reinforcements from landing. If the distance from the United States is the reason for the lack of reinforcements why not send men from Australia? This and other related problemsi could be solved more expeditiously if we had a single command in the South-West Pacific — not a military command based on Australia and a naval command based on New Zealand. Independent commands in interdependent strategic areas are iilogical. The Solomons battle should not be regai'ded merely as a naval show. Its outeome could materially affeet the fortunes of the United Nations. We cannot af - ford to risk a major reverse through remote eontrcl and divided command." The opinion in Britain and America is that the Japanese are going slowly in New Guinea and the Aleutians in order to muster their forces for a great effort in the Solomcns. It appears to be generally recognised that possession of the Guadalcanar airfield would enable the Japanese to prosecute their prime purpose in the South-west Pacific — the attempted occupation of New Caledonia,, placing them across the supply line from America, to, Australia and New Zealand. "None should minimise the danger of fresh Japanese troop landings in the Solomons," says the London Daily Telegraph. Tok.io is showing that it, is well aware that unless the Japanese hold the airfields and harbours of the island chain from Asia across the South-west Pacific they cannot keep their conquests."