Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-08
BY c. YATES MCDANIEL.
Associated Press War Correspondent


March 8.-What I have just seen
and heard during a 10,00O-mile trip
over the Southwestern Pacific area
enables me to understand appre-
hension expressed in authoritative
quarters lest world reaction to
Allied victory in the Bismarck Sea
prove too enthusiastic and opti-
mistic.
Such reaction, these quarters be-
Ieve, tends to create the impression
that the destruction of the 22-ship
Japanese convoy not only has elimi-
mated the enemy threat in this area,
but may also force the enemy to
abandon much of his bases in the
island chain north of Australia.
These conclusions are not supported
here.
was in the air much of the time
during the period of the Bismarck
Sea action. Many thoughtful off,
GERS say the Allies still are oper-
ating on a dangerously narrow mar
tended to support this view.
Photographs shown me at Allied
headquarters in New Guinea pic
tured at least 60 Japanese warships
and merchantmen in the harbor at
Rabaul, New Britain, less than 500
miles from New Guinea, even while
other pictures left no doubt that
Gen. Douglas MacArthur's, airmen
had scored complete success
against the big Japanese convoy.
Other Concentrations of Ships.
And the so ships were by no means
the heaviest concentration of Japa-
nese forces observed in recent weeks
in New Britain waters, was told.
Allied aerial reconnaissance also
revealed stable concentrations of
war planes at various japanese bases
within operational distance of New
Guinea.
These facts lead informed observ-
ers to disagree with overseas COM
mentators, who have suggested that
destruction of the Bismarck Sea
convoy might force the Japanese to
abandon some of their island bases.
The japanese record in holding
on in Papua Southeastern New
Guinea) until annihilated and on
Guadalcanal in the Solomons until
overwhelmed does not provide much
reason to believe that they will
abandon the base at Lac or any of
half dozen on the northeast coast
of New Guinea just because one
convoy failed to get through.
Gen. Macarthur communique
yesterday said the Allied forces had
used approximately 1876 planes
against the Bismarck Sea convoy.
Planes Make Four Sorties.
The extent to which American
and Australian flyers used first-line
warplane strength in the battle was
indicated by squadron leader who
told me some Of his planes had
made four sorties each on the sec
ond day of the action.
During tour of all the major
and many of the secondary land,
sea and air bases in the Southwest
Pacific, from Southwest Australia
to the islands northeast of New
Guinea, commanders were hus-
banding and deploying their effec-
tive combat strength.
That strength was not what might
have been expected of force which
included two full generals. full
admiral and numbers of officers of
flag or general rank.
While the Allied forces in New
Guinea were smashing the most
formidable sea-borne force ever sent
against that area, American, Brit
lsh, Dutch and Australian units in
the Darwin area of Australia were
on the alert for a follow-up of the
japanese fighter plane raid a week
ago last Sunday.
Visiting the Darwin area a few
days before Australian and British
Spltfire pilots drew first blood from
the Japanese Zeros, 1 found that
this natural entrance to Northwest
ern Australia was protected on land
and in the air in a manner which
would render practically impossible
repetition Of the japanese on
slaught Of last February which
caught SO many of the Allied de-
tense eggs in one small basket
formed by Darwin harbor and the
| small peninsula on which the town
is situated.
Allied forces in the Darwin area
did not get into the Bismarck Sea
action, for they had to be ready
in case an enemy threat from the
northeast conceded with a move
from even nearer japanese bases in
the Arafura Sea directly north of
Australia
Guarding Australias coast line
against air, surface and subsurface
threats, and watching and attack
| ing enemy-held bases in the islands
forming an arc around the northern
part Of the continent, form task
| for far larger air force than is
now available to Gen. Macarthur.
But the men in charge of safe
guarding Australia as an industrial
agricultural and operating base