JAPANESE MOVE EXPECTED

Southland Times, Issue 24836, 31 August 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE MOVE EXPECTED

Allies Entrenched On Solomons (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 30. New Zealand reports published here that a major battle has flared up again in the Solomons are not confirmed either here or in Washington. Though the enemy forces have now withdrawn, Washington officials admit that a large scale enemy, sea and air assault preparatory to an attempt to land substantial numbers of Japanese troops on the islands recently captured by the Allies must be expected at any moment. Light enemy forces successfully attacked by our air forces on Thursday may have been the spearhead for a new attack. While the latest successes are heartening and indicate that the Allied forces are now firmly entrenched on the islands, they have caused observers to state that Japanese losses so far represent only a small portion of her sea strength. A writer of The New York Post, commenting on the admonition of a high

American Navy official against overplaying the Solomons victory, says: “Our successes to date have been relatively minor, with the major showdown still to come. The Japanese are certain to launch a counter-attack on a grand scale and attempt to recover their positions in the Tulagi area, So far the enemy attacks have been more in the nature of reconnaissances in force than full-scale efforts to defeat and dislodge the American forces.” JAPANESE PLANS The Times, London, says Japan cannot call a halt in the Pacific islands and hope to hold her ill-gotten gains. “So long as Australia is held and supplied by the United Nations Japan will always be in danger,” says The Times. Japan must therefore endeavour to forstall a riposte by a successful invasion of the Australian continent before the United Nations can assemble enough force for its defence and as a base for their own subsequent attack.” Whatever setbacks she may experience, the Milne Bay landing proves that Japan is inevitably committed to an advance against Australia, The Times adds. Australian observers see no reasons for altering their views on the South Pacific situation, which is regarded more hopefully than for many weeks past. It has always been recognized here that the major test still lies ahead, but Allied successes in recent operations give reason for optimism. It is felt here that the changed tone of some British and American comment is due rather to the fact that these distant commentators are beginning to view the Pacific situation with belatedly increasing realism rather than that new grounds have arisen for pessimism. It is pointed out that the inevitable pending South-Pacific show-down is sought hy the Allies, not the Japanese. Our gains in the preliminary operations give a solid basis for hopes of further successes in the arduous and costly struggle ahead.