Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-11-05
Japs to Hit
GuadaIcanal
Again Soon
American Chances Look
Good, MolIon Says
By PAUL MALLON

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-The
w JapS were chased away
from Guadalcanal again, but
they will be back.
Their last sea sally was made
I'D of about 30 ships, a stable
portion of their feet. so il IS
reasonable 10 expect that the
next time they come they VIII be
i'm even greater numbers.
That they must come back is
certain. because they have COM
mitted themselves 10 the sup
port of the troops they have
landed.
A tough and dangerous con-
tinuing fight for the control OF
our remote foothold must there
fore be expected, with the final
issue in doubt
OUR chances look good. some
" better than our heavy losses
in ships may have led casual
news readers 10 suspect,
The loss of the three cruisers
we can stand fairly well, bat the
sinking of those two aircraft
carriers was a damaging blow.
The japanese lost two carriers
also tone damaged. one sunk,
and they are not in a position
TO stand il so we'll as We can.
They have only two or three
regular standard carriers left,
two large and one small.
In addition, they probably
have several carriers converted
from merchant liners, which are
not efficient for strong action.
Give them a minimum of five
and a maximum of nine, only
two of which are top-rating fiat
tops.
The Official figures show we
have three regular carriers fewer
than the number with which we
started the war. several con-
verified and several building.
The carrier is the main strik-
ing implement of sea action. as
was shown again in the Solo
mons tussle.
All our sea losses, except
those of the two carriers sunk
by submarines, were due to air
action, and in the latest fight
all ship losses on both sides
were wrought by carrier-based
aircraft.
So in this main striking force
we are about even. although we
have the edge because the re-
sponsibility for attack rests upon
the japanese.
THE land fighting has been
l. ferocious. few prisoners being
taken on either side.
Apparently the marines re-
g.iired q little time. TO become
accustomed to the fighting meth
eds of the Japanese, but as the
laps apparently wanted it that
way. they are getting it.
Obviously the japanese have
no superior strength on land.
Their two penetrations of the
lines of the marines were quickly
pinched out.
They stopped their night land
ings in small boats after their
feet was forced TO withdraw.
So the fight on the sea is
likely TO decide the issue.
GENERAL MacARTH UR' S
VI strong left arm on the
Pacific front has meanwhile
been punching the japanese
back to the place where their
northern shore bases in New
Guinea are in danger.
His recapture of the Kokoda
airfield has put him in position
10 open a new area of fighting
northward from that spot.
Furthermore. the japanese
tactics of flanking and infiltra'
ton have been stopped.
Apparently Macarthur has
also been getting more planes,
because he has been hitting the
Jap bases at Rabaul with in
creasing regularity.
WINTER has closed down on
w the possibilities of a Japa-
nese attack on the Amur River
line. just as il is freezing Hit
lers drive in Russia, but the
japanese still have a formidable
force in there. and action is yet
possible.
What seems TO have happened
there is that the japanese got
themselves all ready for a drive.
expecting the fall of Stalingrad
and collapse Of the Caucasus.