U.S. DEFENCES IN SOLOMONS

Southland Times, Issue 24835, 29 August 1942, Page 5

U.S. DEFENCES IN SOLOMONS

REPORT OF ATTACK BY JAPANESE FORCE

(Rec. 10.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 27. The United Press says that although during the morning the Navy Department had no news of the progress of the Solomons battle, it is believed that a powerful Japanese naval striking force is still trying to break through the American defences, despite the withdrawal of another enemy fleet composed of transports and escorting warships. A Japanese Imperial headquarters communique broadcast from Tokyo stated: “Japanese naval units on Monday engaged United States naval reinforcements east of the Solmons. Imperial air units immediately attacked, dealt heavy losses and repulsed the enemy. The result ascertained to Thursday is: Severe damage to one large aircraftcarrier of a new type, damage to another carrier of medium size and damage to a battleship of the Pennsylvania type. The Japanese casualties comprise the loss of one destroyer and one small carrier damaged.” The engagement is officially designated as the second battle of the Solomons. This is the first Axis announcement since the new phase of the Solomons naval battle was begun and is the first word of a Japanese ship being sunk. While United States’ communiques announced hits on. at least 12 Japanese warships, including large and small carriers, no claim of sinking was made. There has been no report from Washington of United States’ losses. JAPANESE “LOSS OF FACE” “Face is not the least important of Japan’s reasons for seeking a quick naval decision in the Solomons and for fresh offensive moves,” declares Major George Fielding Eliot, The New York Herald-Tribune’s military commentator, in analysing Japan’s motives for coun-

ter-attacking. He says: “Our successful attack on the Solomons' undoubtedly had a great effect among all the Oriental peoples among whom Japanese propaganda has been busy representing Japanese invincibility and superiority to the Westerners. “Further, Japan’s needs in other theatres, such as those for her contemplated attack on Russia and India, may call for a quick reversal of the situation in the Solomons. The Japanese may feel that our lodgment in the Solomons is obviously only the first step of an offensive directed against enemy bases in New Guinea and New Britain, and that it must be eliminated before they have a free hand for a major effort elsewhere. If the Japanese decide to risk the whole or a major part of their fleet in an attempt to recover the lost ground in the Solomons their decision will have been reached after carefully weighing all the factors.” PACIFIC SHOW-DOWN Effect On Course Of War NEW YORK, August 27. “A Pacific show-down seems to be at hand,” says the well known correspondent of The New York Times, Hanson Baldwin, commenting on the Solomons campaign. “It may alter the finely drawn balance of power in the Pacific and may thus affect the entire course of the war in the Pacific theatre,” he writes. “It is clear that the Marines and the Navy are tenaciously clinging to their footholds on Guadalcanar and in other Southern Solomon islands while the American Air Force is operating from one or more of the recently conquered fields. This big asset is enhanced by the proximity of the Solomons to other Allied bases, Australia, the New Hebrides, New Caledonia and elsewhere, from which long-range bombers are supporting our naval forces.”

He says that the fact that both sides are throwing considerable-naval forces into the action emphasizes the strategic importance of the battle. The Solomons and Dieppe have proved that invasion and occupation are possible only if naval superiority can be maintained and for this reason the Japanese attacks on Guadalcanar and the abortive Japanese landing attempts are considerably less important than the naval clash.