GREAT FORCES POISED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1943, Page 4

GREAT FORCES POISED

FOR PILE==DRIVER BLOWS AGAINST JAPAN ACCORDING TO AMERICAN ADMIRAL. SOME ANTICIPATIONS OF ALLIED STRATEGY. i.By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, August 29. “Huge naval task forces, with a spearhead of carrier-based aircraft, are poising for new pile-driver blows against the enemy in the Pacific,” declared Vice-Admiral John McCain, Deputy Chief of Naval Aviation.

Elaborating this statement, the United States Navy Department disclosed that approximately a dozen new combat aircraft-carriers had been launched since Pearl Harbour, in addition to an undisclosed number of “baby flat-tops,’ which will help to smash the Japanese .o complete defeat. A Navy spokesman added that 27,50’J naval bombing, fighting and cargo planes will be in service by the end

of iiic* year to operate from these carriers, ana from naval land bases. The Navy is training 30,000 pilots annually and is building 200 lighter than air ships.

The Washington correspondent of thi ■ New York Times” says that, following the Quebec conference, Pacific war strategy will probably develop as follows: —

Firstly, General MacArthur’s painful but punishingly successful campaign will continue, since it keeps 200,000 of the enemy engaged or on guard, reduces Japan’s outer defence bases and grinds down her air and naval strengths.

Secondly, when the Japanese New Guinea and Rabaul defences crumble, the conflict will be spread to the East Indies and the Philippines, under General MacArthur’s direction.

Thirdly, an amphibious operation, under naval direction, sooner or later will be undertaken against Truk, the main ‘Japanese base in the Central Pacific.

Fourthly, Lord Mountbatten will lead a big push through Burma when he assembles the huge army and invasion fleet necessary to ensure overwhelming superiority. Fifthly, with the Aleutians again in American hands, Japan must watch for air and sea stabs from the north, particularly against her Kurile bases. VAST WORK POSITION IN NEW GUINEA TRANSFORMED. AMERICAN MINISTER'S VISIT. (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day.. On their visit to the war front in New Guinea, Mr Robert Patterson (United States Under-Secretary for War) and General Knudsen had an insight into the vast work that has gone into holding the Japanese and consolidating Allied positions in the past year. They saw at Port Moresby a base which barely a year ago was the Allies’ last stronghold outside Australia, and the goal of the Japanese driving across the Owen Stanleys. Now it is a centre of Allied striking power, backed up by sub-bases in forward areas, while the Japanese have been thrown back on the defensive at Salamaua. The party’s tour included a flight across the Owen Stanleys and a visit to Buna. Together with General Sir T. Blarney, with whom they conferred at his New Guinea base. The party has now returned to the mainland.