REPELLING JAPAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 2 September 1942, Page 2

REPELLING JAPAN

TLLAGI, MILNE BAY, SOUTH CHINA The news "of the repelling of the Japanese attempt to land in Milne Bay, at the south-east extremity of New Guinea, coming on the heels of the more detailed story of the successful landing in the Solomon Islands, makes good reading for the peoples of Australia and New Zealand in particular, and for the United Nations as a whole.

While it cannot be expected that Japan wilL accept these reverse* lying down, and strong reaction by the Nipponese land, sea and air forces is not only possible but probable, the events of the past few weeks in the southwest Pacific give grounds for sober hope that the tide of Japanese success in this area is slowing down, if not already on the turn. Japan’s Problems

If Japan is to consolidate her early gains she has a heavy task to face, for she can only hold the territory won if she can prevent the steady amassing of power against her of which the Solomons and New Guinea are only the earnest. To do this she must gain safe bases from -which to interrupt the steady flow of men and munitions across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, which, if allowed to continue, will ultimately swamp her.

Her move into the Solomon Islands was to this end, in that it was probably intended as a stepping-stone to the seizure of New Caledonia and the New Hebrides Group, from which submarines and surface craft could seriously have hampered the United Nations’ transpacific shipping routes. Her original occupation of the Solomon group was almost unopposed. Now, if she wishes to return to her plan, it will need, perhaps, a major effort involving strong naval and air forces. With her commitments in the Aleutian Islands and the defence of her mid-Paeific islands to occupy considerable naval strength, her resources may come under heavy strain, and if the day should go against her in a further al tempt to establish herself at Tulagi and on Guadalcanal, it is possible that it might have a decisive effect on the whole course of the war in the Pacific.

Thus, in a sense, the United Nations, by their defensive attacks on the Solomons Group, and at Milne Bay and elsewhere in New Guinea, have placed Japan in the position where she must attack to defend herself also. This much the past few weeks have gained for the United Nations, and the war against Japan is just that much improved for them Moves In China A radio commentator from London, a Mr. O. M. Green, who has had wide experience as a journalist in the Far East, said this week that the improved position of the Chinese forces in the past few weeks was due to just one thing, aeroplanes. The accession of United States air power had come as an invigorating tonic to their morale and the two things together had placed them in the ascendancy. It is possible, however, that there max oe another factor influencing the coarse of events on the South China battlefronts —the withdrawal of Japanese forces for use in other theatres of the war. The monsoon season is drawing to a close. By the end of this month the climate will be less unfavourable for a major attack on India.