AIR AND SEA FORCES

Southland Times, Issue 24889, 31 October 1942, Page 5

AIR AND SEA FORCES

Growing American Strength

(Rec. 1 a.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 29. Until American naval superiority is established a further offensive in the Solomons is unlikely and the defence cf Guadalcanal- is imperilled, says Hanson Baldwin in The New York Times. Japan started the war with a ciear-cut numerical superiority in warships in the Pacific, and despite losses in the Coral Sea and Midway battles she still holds superiority in carriers and is at least equal to our Pacific fleet in battleships, cruisers, destroyers and perhaps submarines. Japan’s carrier strength has been considerably reduced but still musters a minimum of five and a maximum of nine carriers, and in addition she has 12 to 14 battleships, and 20 to 30 cruisers. Japan’s Pacific superiority is being slowly whittled down by losses and the growing output of American shipyards which have replaced outdated carriers by new vessels, and built new battleships such as the North Carolina and the Washington. Four vessels of 35,000 tons of the South Dakota class (27 knots, nine 16in guns) are already commissioned or are being commissioned this year. Further, more new type anti-aircraft cruisers have been commissioned and scores of submarines with the greatest radius are under construction.

The prospects of growing American air superiority are even more favourable. Japan’s reserves of planes and pilots are limited. Therefore, the continuity of her air effort is impaired. Informed circles estimate that the capacity of Japanese production is 800 planes monthly with a maximum of 1200, of which 900 are combat aircraft, while American production is 6000 monthly and is still mounting. In the first months of 1943 Japan should begin to feel the weight of numbers in the air and at sea.