STRATEGIC ISLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1943, Page 4

STRATEGIC ISLAND

LOST TO THE ENEMY STATEMENT BY COLONEL KNOX. value of './Guadalcanal. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 9. The Secretary for the Navy (Colonel Knox) told the Press that all enemy resistance in Guadalcanal apparently had ceased. He said the Navy had information which- partly confirmed the Japanese evacuation of Guadalcanal, except for a few small isolated groups taking refuge in jungle valleys, where either death or surrender were their only alternatives. He added that this put an apparent end to the six months’ campaign to gain control of a strategic island, with a vastly important airfield, which has denied the enemy a base from which to raid American communication lines with Australia and has placed American forces within striking distance of some of the most important Japanese bases. “The South-West Pacific campaign would have been vastly different in the last few months,” he observed, “if we had not been established in the Solomons.” He said he lacked information regarding sea and air engagements in the Solomons area, but assumed that “preliminary plays” were still going on, 1 just as they had been since January 29. “I suspect it is possible that this naval air activity might be a demonstration covering the withdrawal from Guadalcanal,” Colonel Knox said. He readily agreed that such reasoning was purely speculative. The enemy might well be planning some new naval blow. Asked if the enemy had much to withdraw, Colonel Knox replied: “No, when we were down there it was estimated that they had between 4,000 and 6,000 men.” JAPANESE VERSION ARMY & NAVY UNITS “TRANSFERRED.” CLAIMS REGARDING RELATIVE LOSSES. (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) NEW YORK, February 9. The United Press states that according to the Tokio official radio. Imperial Headquarters announced that units of the Japanese. Army and Navy were transferred from New Guinea and from Guadalcanal early in February. It is added that: “A powerful Japanese force was despatched with the objective of establishing strategic bases and various battle lines in New Guinea and the Solomons. These bases, which form a foundation for new operations in the South Pacific,, were completed, whereupon the Japanese units, after effectively withstanding enemy counter-offensives in the vicinity of Buna, have been transferred to other zones of operation. Units operating on Guadalcanal had attained their primary objective and therefore were withdrawn from the island and transferred to a new front early in February. A Tokio Imperial Headquarters communique (a British Official Wireless message reports) claims that American josses in the Guadalcanal battle were over 25,000 officers and men killed, 230 planes, 30 batteries and over 25 tanks destroyed. The Japanese losses, it is alleged, were killed and died from sickness and 139 planes missing. ANOTHER STORV ADMISSIONS OF DEFEAT. AUSTRALIANS CALLED BEASTS & DEVILS. (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) NEW YORK, February 9. Japan declares that its forces have completely evacuated Guadalcanal. In a broadcast intended only for the homeland and occupied Pacific areas, the Tokio radio said that the New Guinea and Solomons fighting had become “a . succession of pathetic and tragic’ incidents for the Japanese troops.” “The Americans are trying to swallow us up in one breath, in the air and transportation battle, by depending upon their vast productive power,” added the broadcast. The British and Americans are committing violent actions on battlefields, comparable only to those of beasts and devils. The circumstances for the Japanese are disadvantageous beyond description. Our officers and men, however, are continuing bloody and decisive battles day and night.” The broadcast quoted a Domei news agency correspondent recently returned from New Guinea as saying: “The Australian Army has made a careful study of jungle fighting. For example, an enemy sentry builds a seat in a large tree and shoots at us. I felt during the New Guinea campaign that the enemy strength was being constantly reinforced. The enemy has added strong elasticity to his fighting. The character of the New Guinea mountainous country is utterly beyond the comprehension of the Japanese people. The enemy waits for us 1 to cross a bridge we build across a valley; then he ambushes us from the jungle with automatic rifles and guns. The enemy does not emerge from the jungle, but throws hand grenades. Enemy air attacks are very fierce. Formations of five or six planes raid us five or six times each day. Planes frequently destroyed our bridges over swift-running streams. Consequently we were sometimes unable to send forward supplies. At one stage our troops went for 20 days without a grain of rice.” American reports point out that the correspondent’s remarks are phrased as though fighting were still going on in Papua, of which Tokio has admitted the loss merely of the Buna sector. PROMOTION STEP FOR AMERICAN AIR COMMANDER. (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 9. It is announced that Major-General Millard Harmon, commander of the American 'Army Air Force in the South Pacific, has been appointed Lieutenant-General. The appointment was recommended by Admiral Halsey because of the success of Army and Navy co-operation in the Solomons.