Withdrawal Does Not Mean Defeat Of Enemy Forces

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1942, Page 3

Withdrawal Does Not Mean Defeat Of Enemy Forces

Rec. 12.30 a.m. Sydney, Aug. 30. New Zealand reports published here that a major battle flared again in the Solomons are not' confirmed either here or at Washington. Though the enemy forces have now withdrawn Washington officials admit that a large-scale enemy sea and air assault preparatory to an attempt to land substantial numbers of Japanese troops on the islands recently captured by the Allies must be expected at any moment. The light enemy lorces successfully attacked by our air forces on Thursday may have been the spearhead for a new attack. While the latest successes are heartening and indicate that the Allied forces are now firmly entrenched on the islands, observers caution that the Japanese losses so far represent only a small portion of her sea strength. The New York Post writer, commenting on an admonition by a high American navy official against over-playing the Solomons victory, says: "Our successes to date have been relatively minor with the major show-down still to come. The Japanese are certain to launch a counterattack on a grand scale and attempt to recover the positions in ti i Tulagi area. So far the enemy attacks have been more in the nature of reconnaissances , in force than full-scale efforts to defeat and dislodge the American forces. The London Times says: "Japan cannot call a halt in the Pacific Islands and hope to hold her ill-gotten gains. So long as Australia is held and supplied by the United Nations Japan will always be in danger. Japan must therefore endeavour to forestall a riposte by a successful invasion of the Australian continent before the United Nations can assemble enough force for its defence and as a base for their own subsequent attack. "Whatevet- setbacks she may experience, the Milne Bay landing proves that Japan is inevitably committed to advance against Australia." It is felt here that the changed tone of some of the British and American comment is due to the fact that these distant commentators are beginning to view the Pacific situation with belatedly increasing realism rather than that new grounds have arisen for pessimism.