MAIN JAPANESE OBJECTIVE

Southland Times, Issue 24890, 2 November 1942, Page 5

MAIN JAPANESE OBJECTIVE

PROTECTION OF NEW EMPIRE (Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 31. “Military developments between Japan and America have ceased to be a battle for the Solomons and have become a battle for the South-west Pacific,” states Joseph Harsch, until recently The Christian Science Monitor’s war correspondent in Australia. “The initiative lies in Japanese hands, as our forces cannot break off the action without exposing the AmericaAustralia supply lines,” he adds. “The American occupation of Guadalcanar was the first challenge to the Japanese southward infiltration, but not a vital challenge. “Why did the Japanese decide to make a serious issue of the Solomons, although India seems a more desirable prize than Australia and New Zealand? The answer is that Japan will not be distracted by morsels of loot from the major business of securing and defending her newly-won empire. Events have proved that the United States is the only enemy who is able to challenge Japan. The Japanese objective in the Guadalcanar campaign, therefore, is more than to wipe out loss of face. It is a continuation of Japan’s creeping campaign further south-westwards, by which the Japanese hope to choke off the greatest single danger to their conquests—the United States. SECOND FRONT SUGGESTION “Our only consolation is that it is unlikely that Japan will attack on any other front while the present campaign continues in the Solomons. But our forces are being pounded so heavily that fulfilment of suggestions heard of a second front to be opened by the British in Burma might be helpful.” The former Tokyo correspondent of The New York Times, Otto Tolischus, addressing the China Society of New York, emphasized the importance of holding the Solomons “in order to prevent an invasion of Australia.” Mr Tolischus said this, together with an invasion of Siberia, was Japan’s principal objective. AMERICANS HOLD ON “FIRST ROUND IS OVER” WASHINGTON, December 31. “We are still in Guadalcanar and occupying every inch we ever controlled,” said the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Frank Knox, to the Press. “The first round is over. We are waiting for the second round to begin. Part of the Japanese fleet has retired from the scene. At present there are no surface units in active operation near the Solomons.

“The Navy is aware that some of the Japanese warships have returned to their bases, also supply ships and transports. Supplies are still reaching the Marines and soldiers on Guadalcanar. Our communications are uninterrupted. The Army Air Force is still very active.”

RUBBER FOR GERMANY

Shipments Sent By Japan

NEW YORK, October 30. The Washington correspondent of The New York Times says the Government is concerned about reliable reports that Japan has succeeded in shipping rubber to Germany through the blockade. Officials explain that the rubber is apparently routed from Singapore southward through the Indian Ocean and around Cape Horn to French African ports.

AMERICAN AIR LEADER DECORATED

(Rec. 8.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 31. The War Department has awarded Lieutenant-General Lewis H. Brerston, commanding the Army Air Forces in India, the Distinguished Flying Cross for his achievements in the Andamans last April.