MILNE BAY LANDING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 29 August 1942, Page 5

MILNE BAY LANDING

Demonstration of Japanese Strength

SPECULATION BY OBSERVERS

Battle for the Pacific Sydney, Aug. 2ft “The Japanese landing at Milne Bay is a surprising demonstration of Japanese strength. It shows that even if the Solomons battle succeeds the battle for the South-West Pacific is not won, and Australia and New Zealand are not freed from the risk of invasion. The Japanese will have outflanked our Solomons positions before we have finished mopping up if Milne Bay is consolidated by them in defiance of increasing Allied airpower in this theatre.” This comment by the “New York Evening Post” military writei indicates a growing realisation that the fighting in the Solomons and eastern New Guinea areas are not distinct engagements but both part of a major battle for the South Pacific. Although the second phase of the Battle for the South Pacific has ended in victory for the Allies it is considered that the third phase has yet to come.

American observers believe that the Allied fleet is now massing to the north of the Solomons in hopeful anticipation of a showdown with the main Japanese battle fleet. The outcome of such a battle is confidently awaited. All indications suggesW that the Allies are anxious to expand the present guerrilla fighting into full-scale naval action. However, with the Japanese in desperate need of a success to level the score, some American observers, including Mr Hanson Baldwin, the “New York Times” correspondent, feel that the enemy may be tempted to launch another thrust against Pearl Harbour and Midway. Such an attack would be a major counter blow on the Milne Bay principle, designed to distract and divert the Allied offensive forces from the task of rolling back the Japanese. But while the news of Milne Bay land fighting does not offer a complete picture, war commentators feel that unless it can be strongly supported by the enemy the Allied forces in New Guinea are powerful enough to deal with this new threat. It is pointed out that every effort of the Japanese to press inland from their northern New Guinea bases. Lae and Salamaua, have been blocked by Allied patrols. In these sectors, as well as Kokoda, the Japanese seldom venture abroad in parties of fewer than fifty, but they have been continually repulsed. The Japanese hold on New Guinea is still decidedly not a stranglehold. If they are finally and completely repulsed in the Solomons and their supply lines to New Guinea menaced it will be a very precarious hold indeed. The new enemy landing at Milne Bay is symptomatic as much of the rising tempo of the Pacific war as of Japan’s steady purpose to reduce Port Moresby before continuing to drive south.

Major Allied successes recently encourage observers here to a hopeful view that the Japanese may have stuck out his neck just a little too far. However, long and arduous fighting by land, air and sea is recognised to be in prospect. CONNECTION WITH SOLOMONS BATTLE “The Japanese attempt to take Milne Bay cannot be divorced from the action of the Solomons,” says the Sydney “Morning Herald” war correspondent. “If our forces in the Solomons go on to other successes and recapture the whole group, Milne Bay would be useless to the Japanese and any garrison they might establish there would be cut off. On the other hand if they successfully countered our move in the Solomons the possession of Milne Bay would add tremendously to the strength of their grip on the South-West Pacific.” However, it is by no means certain the enemy will succeed in taking Milne Bay. Even should they gain an initial success they will have difficulty in holding it without strong air protection. There are no topographical obstacles excepting lakes and rivers between Milne Bay and Port Moresby along the southern New Guinea coast The scale of land fighting at present taking place on Milne Bay is not known but it is expected here that the next 48 hours will decide “whether the Japanese have sent a boy to do a man’s job.” DANGER TO PORT MORESBY A general picture of the newest enemy expedition suggests that the restricted forces landed at Milne Bay might be intended to “soften” the area for. a larger invasion force at a later date. The threat to Port Moresby, it is now emphasised, would then become grave. The difficulty in dislodging the Japanese once they landed is pointed out by the Sydney “Daily Telegraph,” which says: “Invariably once they hit the cover of a jungle the Japanese are difficult to rout out. They have proved this in the Kokoda area that their limpetlike regard for even minor gains makes them hard even for a superior force to dislodge. ADVANTAGES ASSESSED The advantages of Milne Bay to the enemy are assessed as being, firstly, a gain in position for the Solomons struggle which the Japanese must expect to grow in intensity; secondly, ensure control to Es Strait, discounting the protective value of Port Moresby to the Allies; thirdly, place long-range enemy planes both land-based and water craft within close striking distance of the Australian mainland.

“Face” is not the least important of Japan’s reasons'of seeking a quick naval decision in the Solomons and for fresh offensive moves, declares Major Fielding Eliot, the New York “Herald-Tribune” military commentator. Analysing Japan’s motives for counter-attacking he says our successful attack in the Solomons undoubtedly had a great effect on all Oriental people among whom Japanese propaganda has been busy representing Japanese invincibility as su- I perior to all Westerners. Further, the I Japanese need for other theatres such i as the contemplated attack on Russia and India may call for a quick re- I versal of the situation in the Solomons. 1 “The Japanese may feel our lodgment! ir the Solomons is obviously only the first step of an offensive directed against enemy bases in New Guinea and New Britain and must be eliminated before they have a free hand for a major effort elsewhere. If the Japanese decided to risk the whole or the major part of their fleet in an attempt to recover lost ground in the Solomons their decision 1 has been reached after carefully weigh- I ing all the factors.” —P.A. special Aus- 1 tralian correspondent.