Caution Keynote of Australian Comment

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 207, 31 August 1942, Page 5

Caution Keynote of Australian Comment

Japan Expected To Make Big Bid (Special Australian Correspondent.) ’Received Sunday, 9.10 p.m. SYDNEY, Aug. 30. New Zealand reports published her., that a major battle has flared up agai.. in the Solomons are not confirmed eith~. nere or in Washington. Though tha enemy forces have now withdrawn Washington officials admit that a large-sca.e enemy sea and air assault preparato£y t j an attempt to land substantial numbv.. of Japanese troops on the islands recenti> captured by the Allies must be expecteu at any moment. The light enemy forces successfully attacked by our air forces on Thursday may have been the spearhead for a new attack. While the latest successes are hearten mg and indicate that the Allied forccare now firmiy entrenched on the islands they have taken, observers caution that tne Japanese losses so far represent oniy a small portion of her sea strength. A New York Post writer, commenting on the admonition of a high American Navy official against overplaying the G.|omons victory, says: “Our suedes&cs ij date have been relatively minor w, k . me major snov.aown still to come. The Japanese are certain to launch a counts, attack on a grand scale and attempt to recover tneir positions in the Tuigi area, oj far the enemy attacks have been moiv in the nature ot reconnaissances in forex man iun-scaie efforts to defeat or dic.ouge the American forces. ' The Times (u.onaon) says: “Japan can.iot call a hait in the Pacific is.anus a..<i nope to noid her iligotten gains. So long as Australia is held and supplied by the united Nations Japan will aiways oe i.i danger, «*apan must, t.iererore, endeavour tj Toresta.i a riposte by a success.ui invasion of the Australian continent befoi-w the United Nations can assemble enoug.. iorce for its defence as a base for the., own subsequent attack. Whatever setbacks she may experience the Milne Bay landing proves that Japan is inevitably committed to advance against Australia, -ne Times adds. Australian observers see no reasons foi altered views on the South Pacific situation which is regarded more hopeful.; than for many weeks past. It has always been recognised here that the major test still lies ahead, but the A.l.ed succ-sswt in recent operations give reason for optimism. It is felt here that the changeu tone of some British and American comment is due rather to the fact that these distant commentators are beginning to view the Pacific situation witn belatedly increasing realism rather than that new grounds have arisen for pessimism. It is pointed out as inevitable that the pending South Pacific showdown has been sought by the Allies and not by tne Japanese. Our gains in the preliminary operations give a solid basis for hopes or further successes in the arduous ana costly struggle ahead.