INTEREST IN SOLOMONS

Southland Times, Issue 24871, 10 October 1942, Page 5

INTEREST IN SOLOMONS

IMPORTANCE TO AUSTRALIA (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 9. With the growing belief that the Japanese may have withdrawn at least part of their New .Guinea strength to throw into the Battle for the Solomons, Australian interest has turned again to this latter phase of the South Pacific wai J . It is considered here that a Japanese success in their Solomons objectives would be a prelude to renewed and stronger enemy efforts to take Port Moresby. Unofficial opinion is that the American positions in the Solomons are more seriously menaced than at any time since the Marines landed on August 7. This estimate is based largely on the fact that the Japanese can still make landings on Guadalcanal-, despite American air control. When the Japanese have finally concentrated all their parties into one force a mass cssault can be expected. The American Hearst Press flatly declares .it has information that a major battle is looming for the Guadalcanal- air-field and that the outcome of the whole Solomons

campaign depends on the American ability tc hold this spot. William Simms, foreign editor of the Scripps-Howard Press, says the Japanese in the Solomons must either fight back now or capitulate. Although Japan has lost more than 230 planes in the Solomons in two months she seems determined to ignore the cost and build up a land force strong enough for a major offensive to win back Guadalcanar air-field. FEROCIOUS FIGHTING An explanation of the slowness of American progress in the Solomons is given' by The New York Times correspondent with the Pacific Fleet, Foster Hailey, who says the Marines “have been fighting the sort of warfare where every enemy must be killed to achieve final victory. The Japanese in the Solomons have followed the law of the claw and fang. They wage war with a ferocity unparalleled since Ghengis Khan.” Mr Hailey tells stories of the violation of all the rues of war and humanity on Guadalcanal- and Tulagi, where Marine stretcher-bearers going out to pick up Japanese wounded have been torn apart by grenades thrown by the very men whose pain they would ease. When the Americans first landed they encountered comparatively little opposition, the surprised Japanese taking to the hills. As hunger gripped them some emerged to surrender. Several came in by threes, their hands in the air. When they were within range the middle man dropped to the ground, revealing a machine-gun strapped to his back, operated by the other two to kill the men who had allowed them to approach. On another occasion a Japanese officer told Marines that his men, wounded and sick, wanted to surrender, but a treacherous cross-fire from the jungle killed all the Americans but two, who, badly wounded, got back to tell the story. One day a Marine truck ran into a palm-tree, sending the Japanese occupants of the branches tumbling down. Thereafter the enemy soldiers tied themselves into the trees. JAPANESE IN KISKA Opportunity To Exploit Occupation Gone (Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, October 8. Commenting on the recent operations in the Aleutians, The New York Times Washington correspondent says experienced observers believe that as a result of the Midway battle the Japanese have lost any chance to exploit their occupation of Kiska. A complete withdrawal from the Aleutians might be expected were not it a matter of facesaving, which is important to the Oriental mind. In Ottawa the Canadian Navy Minister, Mr Angus Macdonald, announced that five Canadian warships co-operated with the United States force which effected the recent landing in the Aleutians. He added that further details could not be disclosed for reasons of. security. CHEKIANG FIGHTING Heavy Japanese Losses CHUNGKING, October S. The Army Spokesman stated that from May 15 to September 30 the Japanese lost 22,450 killed in the battles in Chekiang and Kiangsi and failed in their objective to link up at the railway network. The Japanese used 170,000 troops to close the gap of 360 miles between the terminals of the Hangchow-Manchang railway, but the Chinese have recovered all except 100 miles, forcing the enemy into a retreat which had not stopped until they reached the Lanchi-Kinhwa sector, where the Japanese are still holding out. The campaign has also cost the Japanese 1050 prisoners, as well as considerable war material and 64 launches have been sunk.