EVERY CONFIDENCE

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 243, 15 October 1942, Page 5

EVERY CONFIDENCE

PACIFIC PR0SPECTS T0UR BY ADMIRAL NIMITZ "SATXSFIED XN EVERY WAY."

P.A. Cable.

NEW YORK, Oct. 14.

Reporting on a recent flying visit to Guadaleanar and other Allied bases in the South Pacific, Admiral Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Flacific Fleet, at a press conferenee at Pearl Harbour expressed the utmost confidence that the United States forces in the Solomons woukl iconsolidate their hoidings and continue the Pacific offensive begun there. "I don't mean that we have the Japanese on the run or hold the upper hand," he said. "I have always been optimistic of the eventual result of the war. After actually seeing the people on the spot and talking with them I have reason to continue to be optimistic. Everywhere i have f ound high, monale and . a fine spirit of co-operation. They are all working in high spirits from early morning to late at night to improve their positions. I'am satisfied in every way with what I saw. "The Japanese noyz realise that in opposing American forces in that area, principally Marines, they are meeting people as tough as they are themselves. We are just as well equipped and well-trained in jungle fighting as the Japanese. They are brave, resourceful and experienced fighters, but now they are meeting people with the same characteristics and are suffering losses accordingly." Admiral Nimitz declared that the continued sinkings of Japanese cargo ships was obviously affecting their Pacific supply problem. He pointed out that it was just as far from Tokio to Guadaleanar as from Pearl Harbour to Guadaleanar. It would be over-optimistic to say that Japanese shipping had been strained, but they were losing lots of ships. United States submarines were doing duty day and night.

DECLINING AIR STRENGTH. Rear-Admiral McCain, who has returned from the Solomons to take charge of the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics at Washington, told the press that in one period from August 21 to September 17 the Japanese lost 133 planes over Guadaleanar Island at a cost of 25 American planes. Admiral McCain himself commanded air scouting and striking forces other than carrier-based planes in the Solomons area. His headquarters were on Espiritu Santo Island, in the New Hebrides, 565 miles from Guadaleanar. Admiral McCain made two trips to Guadaleanar. He said there was evidence that the Japanese were actually declining in aerial strength in the Solomons. He instanced the inferior types of planes now being used by the Japanese and their slowness in replacing losses. Some biplanes and seaplanes used by the Japanese could never have been used unless the enemy was entirely regardless of human life or running short of equipment. During a raid on September 13 several Japanese bombers and fighters were shot down. Examination of these planes showed that they were absolutely new — just off the assembly lines. Their lacquer covering looked as if it) had been dorie only a few hours feefore, and rubber gaskets, which deteriorate quickly in the tropics, were not at all worn or cracked. Admiral McCain added: "These things might indicate that the enemy is getting short of planes, but I would not count on it." Asked about the effectiveness of American air attacks on Japanese bases in the north-western Solomons, Admiral McCain replied that he thought the enemy 's seaplane base at Rekata Eay on Ysabel Island had been rendered untenable and the enemy base on Gizo was definitely untenable.