VERY BELLIGERENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1942, Page 3

VERY BELLIGERENT

MACARTHUR’S “HOLDING” CAMPAIGN CONCENTRATION OF ALLIED FORCES. NEEDED FOR OFFENSIVE. (By Telegraph—(Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) NEW YORK, December 11. News from the South-West Pacific is evidence that General MacArthur is conducting a very belligerent “holding” campaign against Japan, writes the newspaper “P.M’s.” military commentator. The strength of the land forces under General MacArthur and that of the sea power under Admiral Nimitz an'd Admiral Halsey in the Pacific theatre never have been disclosed, and there is a doubt as to whether they are capable of launching an offensive, possibly against. Timor. At the present time most observers are convinced that we should be content to consolidate strong advanced positions in New Guinea and the Solomons until the great-, er portion of our dispersed strength can be diverted to the South-West Pacific.

General MacArthur’s intensive drive in New Guinea and our determined hold on the Solomons are necessary for safety’s sake, these observers say. So long as we can hold these strongpositions the Japanese will be unable io strike at New Caledonia, New Zealand or Australia. Unlike land warfare, as on the Russian front for instance, the enemy cannot bypass such Allied bases safely, for their supply lines could be harassed constantly from Guadalcanal and New Guinea if they were so bold as to try to extend their encroachment further southward.