OPPOSING NAVAL FORCES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 22 October 1942, Page 5

OPPOSING NAVAL FORCES

JOCKEYING FOR POSITION VIEW IN WASHINGTON New York, Oct. 20. Informed circles believe that American and Japanese naval forces are now jockeying for position for a decisive battle in the Solomons, says the Washington correspondent of the New York "Times.” The compilation of reports received in Washington indicates that the Japanese forces are probably concentrated north and west of Guadalcanar, principally around New Georgia. The enemy could steam overnight to the battle area in Guadalcanar from the region between New Georgia and Rabaul, the principal Japanese base. Ships in this locality are too far away for steady attacks by aircraft based on Guadalcanar, and likewise quite distant from American heavy bomber bases in Australia, New Caledonia and the New Hebrides. Qualified observers express the opinion that either of two factors may have checked the Japanese on Guadalcanar after the landing near American positions and the temporary successes of bombing and shelling the airfield. Firstly. the enemy may have encountered more air, land and sea resistance than anticipated. Secondly, the Japanese rray not be planning to conduct an immediate land campaign, but instead are seeking a naval victory as the prelude to the capture of the airfield by land attack. The number of enemy vessels already sighted indicates the possibility that he anticipated a sea engagement. SIGNIFICANT REFERENCE Reference in to-day's communique to auxiliaries is significant since a task force sent out to make a fast attack on the island would not hamper itself with auxiliaries other than a few tankers. Auxiliaries normally make relatively ponderous fleet movements. If the Japanese are seeking a naval engage-

ment it is obvious Vice-Admiral Ghormley and Admiral Nimitz will attempt to outmanoeuvre them and decide the conditions and time at which such an engagement will be held. Hence observers, are watching with keen interest operations on Gaudalcanar itself but none omits consideration of the possibility that what began as an island raid may eventuate into a naval engagement of record proportions.—P.A.