BETTER OUTLOOK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1942, Page 3

BETTER OUTLOOK

IN SOLOMONS BATTLE MARINES ON GUADALCANAR REINFORCED. ENEMY NAVAL ATTACK EXPECTED. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, September 21. The Bat l ie for the Solomons has taken a turn for the better with the United States Navy’s announcement- that supplies and reinforcements have reached the marines on Guadalcanal' Island and that Flying- Fortresses had beaten off Japanese battleships, but a warning is given that the Japanese licet has probably now reformed—it was attacked on September .14—and is waiting to strike again.

American war correspondents watching the Solomons battle have reported that the Japanese had in this zone four battleships and three carriers, with strong cruiser and destroyer support. Three battleships have been reported hit to date, but none has been claimed as put out of action. Other Japanese naval losses here have been too small to affect the strength of the enemy’s fleet. “The assumption is widespread that the Japanese intend making strenuous efforts to recapture the Solomons,” writes the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” "Therefore it is reasonable to assume that the United States Navy authorities are aware of the importance of having adequate forces with which to meet a powerful attack.” The see-saw battle of the Solomons so far has failed to produce any really decisive action, apparently because neither side has overwhelming superiority.

The value of land-based air power against naval strength has again been demonstrated in the latest action, but the Japanese, who have managed to land strong parties of jungle troops on Guadalcanal- are unlikely to leave the rebuff unanswered. They are expected to resume strong ground efforts to capture the Kukum aerodrome. However, the arrival of United States marines as reinforcements has' lessened, though not removed, the danger. Mr Hanson Baldwin, in a dispatch to the “New York Times” from somewhere in the Pacific, says: “The forces in this ocean are delicately balanced, which is a great improvement since Pearl Harbour, when the American force was clearly inferior.”

The New Guinea situation, he says, is not good, but it is balanced by American gains in the Solomons. Believing that hopes of a second front in Europe in 1942 have disappeared, Baldwin says that American intentions are tending to focus increas-, ingly on the Pacific. This is welcomed in Australia, where it has always been felt that the “Pacific war is no side-show but as great a task for the United Nations as Europe.” Making this comment, the Sydney “Sun” today adds: “It is a good omen that leading men in the United States are trying to bring home to their people the true proportions of this great war in the Pacific. Once that lesson has been learnt, a beginning will have been made in changing from the defensive to the offensive. That alone, with full power and over months and years, will defeat Japan.” NO CHANGE IN GROUND SITUATION i IN NEW GUINEA. ENEMY BASES & SUPPLY LINES STRAFED BY PLANES. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, September 21. With the ground situation on the Owen Stanley Ranges remaining unchanged, the Allied air forces continue to hold undisputed mastery in the New Guinea air war. In daylight raids on Sunday, our planes again attacked the main Japanese supply line across the mountains. Huts, bridges, and store dumps along the Kokoda trail were strafed, one large dump being destroyed. At Buna, tire northern end of the supply line, installations were bombed and strafed and fires started.

At Lae, five barges and a tug-boat were burnt at the wharf when our fighters attacked targets on the waterfront. Every Allied plane returned to its base from Sunday’s raids, and the enemy made no attempt at interception. This daily destruction of landing barges, supply dumps and transport vehicles must certainly be adding . to the Japanese troubles in supplying their forward troops. However, a war correspondent says that “although we are masters of the sky in New Guinea, the sky descends only as low as the highest tree.” While the ground situation is unchanged, today’s communique from General MacArthur's headquarters reports “extensive” patrol. activity. This is believed to indicate increasing aggressiveness in jungle reconnaissance and skirmishing. It is officially announced that mopping up operations at Milne Bay have been completed and remnants of the Japanese landing party have been cleared from the area. No mention is made of the capture of Japanese prisoners. It was stated earlier that none had been taken.

DEMAND PRESSED FOR UNIFIED COMMAND. AMERICAN AND AUSTRALIAN VIEWS. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, September 21. “We are still on the defensive in the south-west Pacific, despite our commanders having resolved in favour of an offensive strategy, says the military correspondent of the “New York World Telegram,” complaining that “official boasts of Allied supremacy in this area are premature.” The indications are that we are not outmaned, either in the Solomons or in New Guinea. Why, then, after six weeks’ preparations in the Solomons and many months in New Guinea, are we still unable to prevent enemy offensives and unable to roll them back as planned?” he asks. There are many explanations, some of which are military secrets, says the correspondent. Yet one thing wrong that is publicly known is the divided command.

“A closely related front is split in two,’ 'he says. “That is unfair to General MacArthur, Admiral Nimitz and Vice-Admiral Ghormley, any one of whom is qualified, on his record, for a unified command.

“Why, then, cannot the United Nations have the unified command in the south-west Pacific, originally demanded by Australia and pledged by Washington?”

In Australia there is some reflection of this American opinion that the Unit-

ed Nations have not done as well in the South-West Pacific war theatre as they should have done. The Australian people would only be satisfied by facts about New Guinea, not mere assurances, declared Mr J. P. Abbott, M.H.R. He questioned whether the Army Minister, Mr F. M. Forde, had the dynamic drive necessary for his position, and whether he was prepared to deal ruthlessly with anyone who blundered or failed in his duty. “The first plain fact which the Government and the military command should realise is that the Australian people are mystified and deeply worried over the situation in New Guinea,” he said.

Mr Abbott also asked if it were true that the Australian troops in New Guinea were not adequately trained and equipped for jungle fighting. The Australian people would be satisfied only when they saw “infiltrators themselves being infiltrated and driven back across the hump of New Guinea.” Civilians could not understand why the Australians fighting in the Owen. Stanley Ranges were not given intensive jungle training long ago, said the de-puty-leader of the Federal Opposition, Mr Hughes. “Our men’s equipment must be lightened, their uniforms dyed green, their rations compressed. “They must be led by men who understand jungle tactics, and who, if they are outflanked, will remember that if the Japanese are between them and Port Moresby, the Australians are between the enemy and his base, and so can threaten his rear, attack nis supply column and make him uncomfortable till forces from Port Moresby can overwhelm him,” Mr Hughes said.