ADVANTAGES OF ALLIES

Southland Times, Issue 24823, 15 August 1942, Page 5

ADVANTAGES OF ALLIES

SUPERIORITY AT SEA AND IN AIR

WASHINGTON, August 13. It is believed that the Japanese have decided to run the risk of bringing a strong fleet into action against the American and Australian warships. The Allies continue to hold sea and air superiority. It is accepted in Federal circles that there are good grounds for believing that the initial step in the Allies’ long-range plans for an offensive against Japanese occupied territory is succeeding. The land fighting is reported to be particularly bitter on Guadalcanal where the enemy has several airfields under construction. The island also has excellent anchorages along the coastline. With Tulagi, Guadalcanar is regarded as the chief prize in the Solomons. The Japanese forces are reported to be strongly entrenched in prepared positions in high ground on the centre of Tulagi and to be fighting stubbornly. Prominence is given to an article by the Washington columnists, Drew and Pearson, who say that the Allied offensive in the Solomons is a race against time to prevent the Japanese from fortifying the Solomons at break-neck speed. They say that the Japanese have been building aeroplane runways, fuel depots, and anti-aircraft emplacements. The Navy had to move before the Japanese got too deeply entrenched. Some strategists say that if the Japanese were given a year to fortify the South Pacific islands it would take from three to four years to dislodge them. FUTURE GIGANTIC OPERATIONS

American military strategists believe that if the Solomons offensive takes its expected course it will lead to gigantic Allied landing operations in the next six months.

Hanson Baldwin, The New York Times military commentator, says: “United States Marines and other American and Australian forces are undertaking the first small step in what will probably be the most difficult operation in the history of amphibious warfare. This is the step-by-step, island-by-island advance across, the Pacific. It is a back-breaking task and cannot be accomplished quickly against the Japanese.” Gilbert Cant, The New York Post foreign news editor, says: “The Solomons landing suggests not only that the Japanese navy is spread dangerously thin, but also that the Allies are in a position to take full advantage of the enemy’s difficulties.” Several commentators emphasize the importance of land-based aircraft in the Pacific warfare and declare that the Allied advances in the area where the Japanese possess this great advantage must prove very costly.