Evening star., 1942-10-16
Japs Have ADVANTAGE
In Battle Of Supply
AT GuadaIcanaI
Enemy Already Possesses
Nearby Northern Bases
From Which to Operate
BY WALTER B. CLAUsEN,

"hAAkh b. CLAUSEN, -
Associated Press War CORRESPONDENT.
PEARL HARBoR, Oct. 1e.-Air
power is playing leading role in
the war In the Pacific-a statement
amply supported by the record with
action In the Coral Sea battle, at
Midway and In the Solomons.
Those directing American military
operations agree that sky forces
nave been Japan's key to success.
and that her chief failures have
oeen recorded when she encountered
superior American air power.
THESE leaders, however, empha-
size that air power is not the whole
story-that aviation must have the
support OF other branches of the
armed forces to prove effective. The
air arm, for instance, Is only as
strong as its supply service, and the
now OF supplies to outlying bases
cannot be maintained without ade-
quate sea power.
The current operations in the
Solomons. centeting around Amer
lean efforts to hold and consolidate
an air base at Guadalcanal, present
a clear illustration of the point in
question. American Army and Navy
air forces there are receiving the
active corporation of all the serv-
ices-the fighting ships and trans
ports OF the Navy, the marines, the
Army and crews trained in the
work OF construction and repair.
Difficult Supply Problem.
In these operations the most diff
cult problem is one of SUPPLY
problem that will be met again and
again in the scattered islands of
the Pacific on which the war may
be fought for months or years.
Holding what we already have
won requires considerable land
forces, for the thick jungles OF the
Solomons offer cover in which
enemy forces may lurk for months,
and mopping up is slow process.
Short distances between the islands
also make possible sneak landings
at night, such as the Japanese have
carried out time and again on
Guadalcanal.
All the munitions, food and fuel
for our land forces must be brought
in from outside, for there is none to
be found in the island except what
may be captured from the Japanese.
Japan, having developed the man.
dated islands just north of the Solo,
mons during the last 20 years, has
the advantage in the battle of supply
lines. for she already has the bases
from which to operate close at hand.
Unsinkable Carriers.
Military leaders view these island
bases as the equivalent of unsuitable
carriers, which must be the targets
Of concentrated attacks just as the
ships which ply between them.
The Japanese are giving these bases
and their shipping as much air
and naval protection as is in their
power while striking back at our
supply lines.
The type of warfare which results
does not bring into the picture
great naval engagements where op-
posing fleets line up and blast away
at each other. 1t is rather a game
of hide and seek, in which our ships
as well as our planes are taking a
hand.
The men in command of the
American armed forces know that
this type of war cannot be waged
without losses. and all elements of
the Pacific Fleet have been told that
without risking punishment there is
no hope of striking a telling blow
at the enemy.
Admiral Chester w. Nimitz. COM
mander in chief of the Pacific Fleet,
summed 1t up in a recent speech
when he said:
I'VE will win this war only by
fighting. All the Nations produc-
tive output will be Of no avail unless
we are willing to come to grips with
the enemy"