Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-09
U.S.. Moves Within
Striking Distance
Of Enemy Bases
By the Associated Press.

that effect. He added that all
resistance to American fighting
men there has apparently
ceased"
Thus for the first time in the
war the tenacious japanese have
been forced to give up an important
position completely and, in Secre-
tary Knox's words, the way now
is open for blows by the United
States against some of the most
important bases of the Japanese
There may be few enemy groups
left on Guadalcanal. he said, but
they are too feeble to prevent use
of the strategic South Pacific island
for a further offensive. Gone is
the japanese hope or a stronghold
there from which OF harry the ship
ping lanes to Australia.
Six-Month Battle.
This jungle island was the scene
of six months of bitter fighting
under some of the worst conditions
troops have ever striven. Capt.
Eddie Rickenbacker, visitor, called
it mud and corruption" in hell
holes Of discomfort, danger and
disease.
Belatedly, the Japanese also said
they have evacuated Buna IN New
Guinea. Here some three weeks ago
the Americans and Australians re-
ported final humiliation of 10000
man Japanese force. This victory
climaxed another jungle campaign
In which first the japanese were
stopped en- route to the important
Allied post of Port Moresby, then
driven back over rugged mountains
to the sea.
Secretary Knox talked to a press
conference shortly after the Berlin
radio announced the japanese with
drawal.
Mr.. Knox noted that no such
broadcast had been received directly
from Toxic, but said:
II don't think there's any doubt
about the truth of that report"
Increase in Activity.
He expressed the opinion that it
was possible that widespread recent
sea and air activity in the Solomons
might have been "a demonstration
to cover their withdrawal in dis
cussing the reported retreat Of the
Japanese from the highly strategic
Solomons Island, on which is located
Henderson Airf1eld.
THE story of the Southwest Pa
cific would have been vastly differ
ent story for the last three or four
months had we not established our
position in the Solomons," Mr..
Knox said.
He reported he was without any
further information OF sea and air
engagements in the Solomons area
and said he assumed that 1.-The same
preliminary plays are still going on
down there" just as they have been
since around January %.
II suspect it's possible" Mr.. Knox
said, that this naval and air activ-
ity might be demonstration to
cover their withdrawal"
He readily agreed with questioners,
however, that this was purely spec
ulation on his part and that the
enemy might just as well be planning
some new blow as naval spoke sman
had heretofore indicated was the
case.
Recalls His Estimate.
Mr.. Knox opened his press confer
ence with a statement recalling that
when he returned from Guadalcanal
last week he made an estimate OF
the situation to the effect that Sig
nificant Japanese resistance had
collapsed"
Mr.. Knox said it might easily be
possible that the recent enemy ac-
tivities which had been considered
here to be reinforcements probably
were attempts to evacuate the
Island" but he cautioned that this
merely was speculative and I'VE
must wait confirmation"
It was somewhat later in his press
conference that he said in response
to questioning that I'VE have some
information that the Japs have been
evacuating the island"
AS he made this statement he
glanced at dispatch lying on his
desk which apparently had just
come in from the Pacific command
and he said there might be COM
munique issued later in the day.
Mr.. Knox recalled that when he
was on Guadalcanal January 81 the
commander, Maj. Gen. Alexander
M. Patch, had estimated that there
were about 1000 to 5000 enemy
troops still in existence there.
I'VE were pretty we'll satisfied by
air and general reconnaissance" Mr.
Knox said, there was no slgnifl-
cant number of japanese in any one
group. Several groups have beer
surrounded and cut of from sup
plies and ammunition.
Japs Lacked Munitions.
"As an example of their lack OF
munitions, Gen. Patch had com
fnand post on top of a hill where il
was clearly visible over many miles
of surrounding countryside. 1t was
so exposed that I asked him why II
had not been fired upon. and he
said that the enemy had no artil-
1ery capable of shooting the dis.
lance necessary to attack the post.
The enemy had been driven intt
defiles and gullies in the rough
ridged island country and death O.
surrender were their only alterna
tive.
Mr. Knox's belief that Guadalcana
was now entirely in American hand
except for very small, scattered
groups which may not have bee,
able to get to debarkation poin
apparently marks the end of :
campaign which began on August Z
at time when it was feared tina
the steady southwark surge Of thu
Japanese would, unless quickl,
checked, cut vital American line
81 n~y,, ~, iea low u5tl, A;~%~o1;n