NEW ATTACKS EXPECTED

Southland Times, Issue 24879, 20 October 1942, Page 5

NEW ATTACKS EXPECTED

SOLOMONS FIGHT (Special Australian Correspondent, N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, October 19. The Japanese attacking Guadalcanar are expected to launch new air and naval offensives as soon as their land forces are in position, but the fact that the United States Navy has given definite statements of its observations of enemy operations until Friday indicates that American forces are now deploying to meet the three-way attack and, if possible, to decide the Solomons issue once and for all. This opinion is supported by The New York Times Washington correspondent, who says that although nothing can be announced of American movements to meet the Japanese threat, observers have been encouraged by the latest communique, after two days’ silence, stating that United States planes were operating over Guadalcanar on Friday. So long as the defenders’ air strength is not seriously impaired they have a great advantage. The correspondent adds: “The fact is that the United States Navy is not likely to have been caught unprepared for a situation which it must have anticipated and, indeed, have desired to bring about. It is emphasized that

effective aid can and will be sent to the besieged United States forces in the Solomons.” The New York newspaper P.M. declares: “The Japanese forces on Guadalcanal including troops from New Guinea, probably outnumber the reinforced American forces by at least 10 to one. Furthermore, the latest reports indicate that the Japanese have command of the sea, as well as air supremacy.” CHEERING NOTES P.M. gives a warning that the only cheering notes are statements by the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Frank Knox, who expected that the island could be held, and the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who is optimistic even in the face of the enemy outgunning us to a dangerous extent. P.M. says: “America is in considerable danger of losing one of the greatest actions in the Pacific because Japan has temporarily shelved all other activities in this theatre. Not only have they concentrated the greatest naval force they have ever risked (probably a full battle fleet), but they also hold overwhelming superiority in other departments.” “The Japanese have apparently decided to make a test of their destiny in the Solomons,” says The New York Herald Tribune, predicting in an editorial that if Japan is at first repulsed she will keep coming back with ever stronger forces. “The Japanese feel that if they cannot recover these bits of territory they are going to lose their new empire piece by piece. The Japanese are well aware of the strategic loss they have suffered at Guadalcanar, but they are more concerned over the psychological effect on their armed forces if they cannot retake this prize. One of Japan’s most precious military assets is the fixed belief that no power on earth can take territory from her. Ibis faith in Japan’s destiny as a conquering nation, which enables a soldier to give his life in the knowledge that it is buying the Emperor and people everlasting aggrandisement must be kept untarnished at any cost.” JAPAN’S FUTURE AT STAKE The New York Herald Tribune says that if the Americans were thrown out of the Solomons Japanese morale would soar to unprecedented heights. The men commanding Japan’s counter-offensive no doubt feel that Japan’s whole future as a world power is at stake and will take any chances such considerations dictate. KISKA REINFORCED New Installations Built (Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, October 18. Reconnaissance planes disclosed that the Japanese are reinforcing the Kiska garrison and are building new installations on the south side of the island, says the correspondent of the Associated Press at Alaska headquarters. The Japanese are probably transferring troops to Kiska from the other islands of the Aleutian group which have been found to be unfit for bases. MAIL FROM CHINA Christmas Arrangements (8.0.W.) RUGBY, October 18. Tokyo radio announced that Japan had agreed to accept and transmit from Japanese-occupied China Christmas mail for all countries, including those at war and those which have broken off relations with Japan. The International Red Cross Committee announced that 33,750 messages from Shanghai had been transmitted to 56 countries, including Britain, New Zealand, Australia, India, Canada, the United States and Germany.