IMPORTANT MEASURE OF SUCCESS GAINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1942, Page 3

IMPORTANT MEASURE OF SUCCESS GAINED

American Forces Extending Attacks JAPANESE PINNED DOWN TO LOSING DEFENSIVE ' IN SEVERAL OF THE ISLANDS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. , The Press Association correspondent at a South Pacific port states that the measure of success which has attended the Allied operations in the south-eastern Solomons is such that the Japanese are now pinned down to a losing' defensive in this area. Their position can only be regained by a naval success of the first magnitude. Already it can be said that from the strategical viewpoint the islands of Guadalcanal-, Tulagi and Florida have been taken from the Japanese. This does not mean that fighting’ has ceased or is likely immediately to cease, but it does mean that the Japanese can no longer use the group for the object for which they possessed them and that was to aid their offensive against the Allied positions and supply lines in. the south-west and south Pacific. The land fighting is still bitter.

NOTE OF VICTORY

Therefore while caution must still be used in assessing the general operational outlook, a note of victory can be struck in examining the progress of the land actions. The Americans have successfully passed the stage of winning and consolidating bridgeheads. They have opened out general attacks on various objectives and they are reducing them successfully. Everything now hinges on purely naval operations. The correspondent says it is probable that the fleet in general has now been able to withdraw its immediate support of the land operations and has stood out in preparation for meeting a Japanese naval challenge in force. The enemy units localised at the islands when the operations began have been sunk or have fled to the Caroline Islands. Ultimate success, therefore, turns on developing a crucial naval battle. The Japanese may attempt a frontal assault with their main fleet, in which case disaster for them would change the whole complexion of the Pacific war. If they cannot break open and maintain the supply route to the south-eastern Solomons they must count the islands as lost. The correspondent in conclusion says it is also clear that Admiral Ghormley and his South Pacific headquarters staff prepared the whole scheme. It was approved and it was helped by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz at Pearl Harbour, and he also greatly assisted the tactical surprise and local advantages by organising a diversion in the Aleutian Islands.