Impression of U.S. Observers

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 20 October 1942, Page 5

Impression of U.S. Observers

CAUTION AGAINST UNDUE OPTIMISM (Rec. 11.35 a.m.) Washington, Oct. 19. The Navy announced that American surface ships bombarded the Japanese on north-western Guadalcanar causing heavy explosions and fires. Direct hits were observed on ammunition dumps. The general impression of well-informed military observers is that the Solomons picture is not pretty, says the “Herald-Tribune’s Washington navy spokesman commenting on the communique, and gave a caution against drawing unduly optimistic conclusions from reported American air victories, pointing out that all details cannot be published because they are valuable to the enemy. From this remark observers inferred that the communique is doubtless unbalanced. The ultimate test of victory is possession of the aerodrome. Thus, even though they have lost many planes, if the Japanese recapture the aerodrome they will be able to jeopardise American sea communications with Australia. 1 he United Press of America cites military and naval experts fo the effect that the outcome of the land fighting in Guadalcanar hinges on the impending naval struggle to determine which side gains the supremacy needed to carry reinforcements to ground forces. Observers are of opinion that American naval strategy includes a combination of American tactics at Coral Sea and Midway, and the Japanese tactics are those of the Java Sea battle. With enemy surface units concentrated in the narrow waters of the Solomons Archipelago strategy would involve continued assaults against the Japanese fleet by torpedo and dive-bombers, after which American surface vessels waiting at the mouths of the narrow straits would pounce on the retiring enemy ships as the Japanese attacked Allied units after the main action in the Java Sea.