HIGH COST OF SUCCESSES

Southland Times, Issue 24830, 24 August 1942, Page 5

HIGH COST OF SUCCESSES

Big Action Possible

In Pacific (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 23. The cost of the Allied success in the Solomons has been high and is likely to be a continuing one. This warning is sounded by observers here, who also foresee the possibility that the expedition may soon be followed by a great fleet—ajr engagement, profoundly affecting the Pacific war. Australian commentators view the newest raid on the enemy-occupied Makin island, in the Gilberts, as evidence that there will be no let-up in America’s Pacific offensive. The Washington columnist,. Drew Pearson, says some optimistic naval facts lie behind the Solomons battle. Japan has suffered severe cruiser losses, her strength having been cut in half and perhaps even further depleted. She has also lost about half her aircraftcarriers. On the American side repairs to the ships sunk or damaged in Pearl Harbour have been miraculously swift.

Less palatable deductions of Japanese strength have been drawn by Alexander Kirafly, the Far Eastern expert and author, who believes Japan has prepared a series of “mock defeats’’ in the Pacific to delude the United Nations. In an article in the magazine Asia he says Japan’s heavy losses on the Coral Sea, at Midway and the Aleutian Islands and off Australia may be designed to create an illusion of weakness in the minds of the Allies. He describes Japan’s failure to “conquer” China as the first example of her effort to make the United Nations believe she was weak. BATTLE OF MIDWAY “To American eyes Midway was a decisive victory because the Japanese were driven away from that strategically important island and the enemy losses were far greater than those of the Americans, but Japan probably considers such conflicts in the light of the whole conflict,’'’ he says. “If it should find that they tie down American battle squadrons in Hawaiian and east Australian waters they might even set down such actions as Midway as strategic victories.” Mr Kirafly adds that while Australia and New Zealand unquestionably are the “ultimate Japanese objectives, “their conquest may not take precedence over India.”

More than 100 airfields have sprung into existence in Australia. These are undoubtedly well stocked with planes, but few, if any, of these planes could interfere with enemy movements in the northern basin of the Indian Ocean,” he says. “If the Japanese airfields between Timor and New Guinea were not heavily supplied with planes the Allies would become suspicious. Accordingly, the Japanese have kept them well supplied.”