Japan's Strength At Sea Still Not Completely Known

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1942, Page 3

Japan's Strength At Sea Still Not Completely Known

Special Australian Correspondent.

Suspicion that victories were "mock defeats."

Rec. 11.45 p.m. "ydney, Aug. 23. -The cost of the Allied successes in the Solomons has been high and is likely to be a continuing one. This warning is sounded by observers here ,who also foresee the possibilLty that the expedition may soon be followed by a great fleet-air engagement profoundly affecting the Pacific war. Australian commentatqrs , view the newest raid on enemy-occupied Makin Island as evidence that there is to be no let-up in the Americans' Pacific offensive. The Washington . columrtist, Drew Pearson, . says: "Some optimistic naval f acts lie behind the Solomons battle. Japan suffered severe cruiser losses, her strength having been cut in half and-perhaps even further depleted. She also lost about half her aircraftcarriers. On the American side, repairs to ships sunk and damaged at Pearl Harbour have been miraculously swift." Less palatable . deductions of Japanese j strength have been drawn by Alexander Kirafly, Far Eastern expert and author, who believes Japan prepared a series of "mock defeats" in the • Pacific to delude the United Nations. In an article in the magazine Asia he says: "Japan's heavy losses in the Coral Sea and Midway battles, in the Aleutian Islands and off Australia may be designed to create an illusion' of weakness in the minds . of the Allies." He describes Japan's failure to "cOnquer" China as the first example of her effort to make the UnitecJ, Nations believe she is weak. "To American eyes, Midway was a decisive victory because the Japanese were driven away from that strategically important island and the enemy losses were far greater than those of the Americans. But Japan probably considers such conflicts in the light of the whole conflict. If it should ftnd that they tie down American battle squadrons in Hawaiian and east Australian waters they might even set down such, actions as Midway as strategic victories." Mr. Kirafly adds that while Australia and New Zealand are unquestiohably "ultimate Japanese objectives," their con quest may not take precedence over India. .'"More than 100 airfields will, spring into existence ih Australia and these are undoubtedly well stocked with planes," he says, "but few if any of these planes could interfere with enemy movements in the northern basin of the Indian Ocean. If the Japanese airfields between . Timqr and New Guinea wer.e not heavily gfipplied with planes the Allies would becqrne suspicious. Accordingly. the Japanese hgVe kept them well supplied,"