JAPANESE THRUST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1942, Page 3

JAPANESE THRUST

IN SOUTH-WESTERN PACIFIC ANTICIPATED AT ANY, TIME BATTLE FLET IN MARSHALL GROUP. MASSING & CONSERVATION OF AIR STRENGTH. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) (Special P.A. Correspondent.) SYDNEY, This Day. Evidence accumulates of the growth of Japanese air power in the South-West Pacific, yet the enemy refrains from embarking on any heavy air offensive and the initiative at the moment stays with the Allies. Those responsible for Allied preparedness, however, are taking no risks. Orders have been given for a policy more active and vigilant than when the northern air war was at its height. A heavy Japanese blow may come soon. VARIED OPINIONS. Some commentators believe that the strain of maintaining plane replacement and supplies, plus preoccupation with the Chinese front, has caused the diminution of Japanese activity in the South-West Pacific. Others believe that the Japanese are conserving their strength for a major attempt to cut the Allies’ Pacific supply line. This involves at least the occupation of the New Hebrides and New Caledonia, possibly with eventual deeper thrusts into the Pacific against Fiji and even Samoa. If American reports that a great Japanese battle fleet is now based on the mandated Marshall Islands are accurate, then the enemy forces are well disposed for such a move. When the enemy occupied the northern Solomons, Japanese soldiers told the natives they would be ready to continue their southward drive in two months. That time has now almost elapsed. Meanwhile the enemy has been fortifying his bases and adding to his offensive strength. The Allied air forces have dealt out some hard knocks, but these have not been sufficiently heavy to deflect the Japanese from their main purpose. ARRIVAL OF BOMBERS. Japan has made no secret of the fact that the cutting of the AmericanAustralia supply line is a prime part of her Pacific strategy. Following on the occupation of the Northern Solomons, the Japanese radio claimed that the heavy bomber supply route from the United States to the Eastern Australian coast was already menaced and the supply of these important offensive weapons jeopardised, but the 1 planes have continued to arrive in good numbers. Japan must move still further south and still deeper into the Eastern Pacific to make good her boast. The most significant recent development in the northern air war is the heavily increased numbers of fighters being employed by the Japanese. In this week’s Allied raids on Lae and Rabaul, our bombers were intercepted by packs of fifteen and seventeen Zeros of the newest type. This increased number of fighter planes may indicate a Japanese recognition of their failure to protect their bases by other defensive means. It may also mean that they are planning early new offensive operations in which combat planes such as fighters and dive-bombers must play an integral part. NO GROUND FOR COMPLACENCY. “There is no ground for complacency,” writes the “Sydney Morning Herald” war correspondent. “In this air war the enemy seems to have endless supplies of aircraft easily available. Furthermore, these planes are every bit the equal of ours and often superior to ours. In six days, Japanese aircraft have made no daylight raids on any South-West Pacific objective. Their normal policy is to escort bombers with numbers of fighters. The Allied policy has been to send out bombers unprotected. The Allied bomber pilots are almost invariably called upon to become fighter pilots in order to protect themselves and get their valuable machines home. Inevitably there are losses of fine aircraft and fine crews. Air strength and combined sea and air strength are essential to the successful defence of the remaining Allied bases in the South-West Pacific and the gathering of offensive power within those bases. Australia’s recognition of this fact is indicated by the answer given by Mr Curtin to the Press, when he was questioned as to whether the maintenance in Australia of shipbuilding and aircraft production industries would take precedence over new construction. Mr Curtin answered that maintenance work in both industries would be unsatisfactory without a constructional core. The aircraft production and shipbuilding programmes were basic. From other sources it has been learned that the Australian Government desires that skilled aircraft production and shipbuilding labour and materials should be used for keeping operational strengths at a maximum. Australia, in retaliating against Japanese aggression, must employ the weapon being brandished at her head.”