BIG SEA, LAND AND AIR BATTLE

Southland Times, Issue 24877, 17 October 1942, Page 5

BIG SEA, LAND AND AIR BATTLE

RESULT MAY CHANGE PACIFIC POSITION (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 16. The great sea, land and air battle for the Solomons, now in its fourth day, is still in progress. The United States Navy says that no news of the sea battle will be available until a decision has been reached. The outcome of this biggest engagement of the Pacific war, so vitally important to New Zealand and Australia, is capable of completely changing the position in this theatre. Using some of their most powerful naval units, combined with considerable air strength, the Japanese are making desperate efforts to regain their lost Solomons positions. So far the cost to them has been considerable losses — and it is plain that this is the major showdown which has been expected in the area for two months past. An earlier Chungking report stated that the Japanese Fleet comprises four aircraft-carriers and seven battleships escorted by cruisers and destroyers. Some of the Japanese naval units are reported to be still off Guadalcanar, where the enemy beached burning transports in efforts to land reinforcements. It has now been revealed that the latest American reinforcements on the island are equipped with heavy General Grant tanks. The aggregate of the Japanese losses so far announced in the Solomons fighting is now 58 ships sunk or damaged and 330 planes destroyed. It is believed here that this time Japan will make no strategic withdrawal, and her retirement from the present battle will only be forced by the decisive and complete defeat of her air and naval strengths.

This opinion is confirmed by The New York Herald Tribune, which says: “The Guadalcanar-Tulagi area is one of the most important strategic positions in the South-west Pacific. Its continued possession by the United Nations means that the road is open for attacks north-westward through the islands towards the Japanese base at Rabaul (New Britain) and ultimately Truk and the Carolines. Thus the Japanese have no option but to attempt to recover the positions, no matter what losses are entailed.” Where the Japanese ground troops have mainly landed on the north coast of Guadalcanar is hilly, heavily wooded with 1000-foot peaks close to the shore. It is a suitable place for landing and is believed to be inaccessible to the American forces protecting Henderson airfield. These Japanese troops have apparently struck overland to engage the Americans in bitter fighting in their attempts to repossess the airfield. The American defenders are experienced in jungle warfare and have had many skirmishes with Japanese scouting parties. They must also possess distinct advantages in heavy weapons—artillery and tanks. It is possible, however, that the Japanese have numerical superiority. They have been landing reinforcements intermittently since their original forces on Guadalcanar were driven back into the jungle when the American Marines landed on August 7. ABILITY TO REINFORCE The ability of one side or the other to reinforce its strength may be of vital | importance in the present battle. In this I regard the proximity of Rabaul and the I great Japanese naval air base at Truk gives the enemy an advantage which cannot be overlooked. However, announcement of the establishment of new American South Pacific bases, particularly in New Hebrides (600 miles south-west of the Solomons), indicates that the reinforcements contingency has been anticipated by the Allied command. A late announcement says that American installations in the New Hebrides have been shelled by Japanese warships. Some commentators suggest that submarines, not surface vessels, may have made the attacks. Since land-based air power is of the greatest importance in naval operations it is possible that possession of Henderson airfield will determine the outcome of the entire struggle. Continued Japanese bombing raids on this field, which are still being reported, are designed to neutralize American air strength, which has wrought such havoc among enemy naval units. The American Associated Press says this airfield must be the first objective of the Japanese drive, which is described as having “grim signifiCa H C V. Kelatenborn, an American news analyst, says it is clear the American forces are engaged in a major combat, but “we can take it for granted we have sufficient sea, land and air forces there to make it a real battle.” He believes the American naval strength in the area is equal to the Japanese. Predictions about the outcome of the fighting are generally avoided because of the paucity of actual information, but another well-known American broadcast commentator, Gabriel Heatter, claims that the battle for Guadalcanar will prove to be the great turning point in the Pacific war. “Guadalcanal’ may yet prove to be suicide island for the Japanese and I think I can promise you it will,” he declared. Evidence that the air forces under General MacArthur’s command are playing their part in the present Solomons fighting is contained in today’s communique. A report states that at Faisi (Bougainville) Flying Fortresses dropped 5001 b of bombs on an enemy cruiser from a low altitude. The vessel was evidently seriously damaged and stopped dead. The fortresses flew through heavy anti-aircraft fire to strafe the decks. Japan’s shortage of cruisers is her , greatest naval weakness, says The Syd- . ney Herald’s military correspondent. This is the sixteenth cruiser so far re- ■ ported damaged. At the outbreak Japan ■ is believed to have had 44 cruisers. ; It is probable, however, that there was . some duplication in claims relating to ! damaged cruisers. Lack of adequate cruiser protection for the bigger and j more powerful units may be an im- , portant factor in the present naval ( battle. “The Solomons have become the cockpit of the Pacific,” says The Sun, “gradually drawing greater and greater ] forces until the clash has become one i of first-rate magnitude.” 1