SOLOMONS VICTORY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 1 September 1942, Page 5

SOLOMONS VICTORY

I U.S. PRESS COMMENT PUZZLING NAVAL ASPECT New York, Aug. 31. The “New York Times.” in. a lead- ; ing article, says: “The details of our | conquest of the South-West Solomons ' show that this first American offensive 1 of the war was one of the most clean- | cut, efficient, and gallant operations ip ! history. The insignificant toll of prisoners taken reveals the fanatical courage with which the enemy resisted, but no courage could overcome the brilliant co-ordination of our sea and land forces or plan of attack. “The Battle of the Solomons is the worst defeat the Japanese have suffered in the Pacific, not perhaps in the naval tonnage sent to the bottom but in prestige and position. They have lost a base which is essential to their plan of Pacific conquest, and they lie exposed to attack at many points. “The Japanese know that they were driven from Tulagi by superior force, and the whole of the Far East knows it. Tokio cannot accept this humiliation. The determined Japanese assault in the Milne Bay region shows that they will contest every foot of our advance, either by counter-attack or diveT'cional operations.” XT a.tr Vnrlr “TTprn 1H _Tr ihi in e”

The New York “Herald-Tribune” says: “The Solomons is an inspiring story, but is also confusing in its strategic implications. The Navy be- | lieves that the Tulagi-Guadalcanal I position has been ‘well established.” ■ and it has released glimpes of the subsequent aerial and naval encounters | which seem to indicate that our forces. I successfully repelled major Japanese | efforts to retake the base. Yet at the same time a high authority in Washington insists that these were all minor affairs and that it is still in doubt as to whether the real counter-attack may not be yet to come ” THINGS TO COME The “Herald-Tribune’ ’adds: “The situation is further obscured by the Jana. nese landing in Milne Bay. The latest reports from there are good, but should the Japanese establish themselves there it might go far to offset our success in the Solomons. Certainly, the one operation cannot be.fully assessed till the results of the other are definitive, and the ‘higher authority’ may

only be trying to issue a warning against taking too literally the Navy’s enthusiasm for its achievements.

“However, what can be said is that, here, in miniature, is a picture of what the Far Eastern war is going to be. It will be grim; it will bo bloody; and it will be fought for keeps.”

Commenting on a broadcast which has been made by the repatriated United States Ambassador to Tokio, Mr Harry Grew, the “New York Times” says: “The grave tone of his appraisal of Japanese strength is considered highly significant by Washington observers. since the contents of the speech were necessarily submitted to the high - est Government authorities. Mr Crew’s emphasis on the long and difficult road ahead of the United Nations conforms with the statement on Friday cautioning the country against over-emphasis-ing the importance of the Solomons actions.

“Influential members of the Government are said to feel that the American people, who for years under-esti-mated the Japanese strength, do not yet realise what we are confronting. . . . Mr Grew’s warning of the beginning of a new effort by the Government to arouse the United States to accept the sacrifices which are necessary to overcome the powerful and dangerous foe ” ~P.A.