BATTLE DECLINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 February 1943, Page 4

BATTLE DECLINED

BY JAPANESE FLEET IN SOLOMONS .... I AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT’S STORY. NIGHT ATTACK BY ENEMY AIRCRAFT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 15. The Japanese Fleet has again declined to give battle to the United States Fleet in the South Pacific. Simply by appearing in great strength, the American Navy played an important part in the final phase of the conquest of Guadalcanal. Both sides believed a great sea battle was imminent on February 8, but the Japanese withdrew after a day of reconnaissance and feeling-out operations. This news comes from Norman Bell, Associated Press of America correspondent with the South Pacific Fleet. He says: “When the captain of the ship to which I was assigned issued alert instructions, the crew cheered, but contact was not made with the enemy. Later an explanatory bulletin stated that the enemy came out in force but when they found what they were up against withdrew, making no attempt to reinforce Guadalcanal. The frequent presence of Japanese reconnaissance planes over our task forces indicated extensive scouting prior to the enemy’s decision not to risk a battle.” There is considerable speculation in naval circles as to whether any trickery lies behind the Japanese decision to withhold strength. It is reported that the only action involving American surface units during the fortnight’s tensions was a night attack by enemy aircraft on a task force near Guadalcanal on January 29. OPPORTUNITY FOR OFFENSIVE. “There is a school of thought believing that every bomber, soldier and ton of shipping which is used in the Pacific is an unnecessary deduction from the force which ought to be used against Germany,” writes Major Fielding Eliot, in the New York “Herald-Tribune.” He adds: “Those arguing this way should examine their ideas •in light of the alternative if we had taken a strict defensive in the Pacific and had stood on the Dutch Harbour-Hawaii-Panama line. We would have lost Australia and New Zealand and left the Japanese fleet to exploit these captured territories. There is no doubt that the Japanese by this time would have attacked Russia and probably India. Viewing the accomplishments in Russia and North Africa, we must remember that the immobilisation of Japanese sea and air power in the Pacific is largely responsible for these blessings.” Major Eliot concludes: “There is now a new opportunity for taking the offensive in the Pacific, for which sufficient numbers of men, ships and planes are needed. We shall hear again that these are unwarranted detachments from our strength. Let us draw instruction from the lessons of the past.” AIR OPERATIONS ■ IN ALEUTIANS & SOUTH PACIFIC. (British Official Wireless.) 1 (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, February 15. A United States Navy Department communique states: —"In the North Pacific, on Saturday, a force of Liberators and Mitchells, with a Lightning escort, made a night attack on Japanese positions at Kiska, hits being scored on the target area. Three out of five Zeros which intercepted were shot down and an enemy reconnaissance plane was shot down in the vicinity of the United States positions in the Western Aleutians. “In the South Pacific, on Sunday, Dauntless dive-bombers and Avenger torpedo-planes with an Airacobra and Wildcat escort, attacked Munda, in New Georgia Island. Large fires were started. All the United States planes returned. “In further air activity, a large Japanese cargo ship was hit by three bombs near Buin. Of about 25 or 30 enemy planes which intercepted the attack, eleven were shot down. Two United States bombers and six fighters failed to return.

“Ground activity on Guadalcanal has been confined to patrolling and policing.”