TREND IN PACIFIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1942, Page 3

TREND IN PACIFIC

OPINION IN UNITED STATES LONG & BITTER STRUGGLE AHEAD. JAPANESE NAVY STILL POWERFUL. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) WASHINGTON, June 26. Observers who have still not lost sight of the Pacific theatre of Avar note that, notwithstanding the satisfaction of those who attended the meeting of the Pacific War Council, the trend is for the Pacific front to be reinforced purely for the defensive.

Here and there one still hears a voice urging that advantage should be taken of Japan’s temporary setbacks by a full offensive against the Japanese positions in the South Pacific or by a major task force in actions in the North Pacific, but these voices grow rarer and thinner. In this light, a dispatch to the “New York Times” from Honolulu makes sombre reading. It states: “It is possible to see only a long and bitter road lying ahead. The optimism that prevailed even in official circles in Honolulu in the first few days af? ter the Midway battle has largely evaporated, There can be no minimising of the striking power still retained by the Japanese Navy. ■ “The United States’ victories in the Pacific have done little more than establish parity in air striking power, if that, and the balance still swings heavily in favour of the Japanese in the category of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. “Even were American air and sea power twice that of the Japanese today it would be a formidable task to clear them out of the islands which they held before the war, or which they have seized since . “It is a colossal task. It can and must be done, but it will not be done in a month, six months, or perhaps even a year.” The “New York Times” says that at the latest meeting of the Pacific Council there was discussion of offensive actions against the Japanese to take advantage of the Coral Sea and Midway Island victories, i

It was apparent from the comments of interested diplomats that the conference had, to a great extent, cleared up the conflict in strategical considerations which had existed among some ■of Ihf. United Nations. The “Times” quotes Mr Walter Nash as saying: “In general, the new war plans are pretty well in accord with the way Australia, New Zealand and China would see it,” and the Chinese Foreign Minister, Mr T. V. Soong, added that there was no doubt that Allied leaders had a full understanding of the importance of the Pacific.

The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, in contrast with the general cheerfulness after the meeting, said he was impressed with the great seriousness of the general situation, of which President Roosevelt and Mr Churchill gave a complete picture and indicated the future likely course of events. Mr King mentioned that Canada was co-operating with United States troops in the defence of Alaska, and declared that Canadian troops were ready to serve anywhere they would be effective.