Evening star., 1943-01-04
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT,

ELIOT.
The reduction of the Japanese
center of resistance at Buna Mis-
sion marks another step forward in
our offensive campaign IN the
Southwest Pacific, but the tenacity
OF the resistance and the fact that
the isolated Japanese post at San
amanda Point is still holding out,
bears evidence Of the japanese de-
termination to gain as much time
as possible for their own prepara-
tions, possibly for the defense Of
Rabaul, more likely for some offen-
sive operation designed to divert us
from that objective.
What can the nature of these
preparations be? Naturally, they
would include the assembly of ships,
stores and men at the designated
base Of operations and the provision
of the necessary air cover. But Ger
tain details can be pointed out
which may be significant.
One thing the Japanese may be
waiting for is the repair of dam
aged carriers, or perhaps the COM
pletion for sea Of new carriers. 1t
is notable that no Japanese carriers
took part in the battle of the Solo,
mon Islands, in which the japanese
fleet was 50 disastrously beaten, and
none has been reported since as
engaged in any action anywhere in
the Pacific. 1t is. therefore, quite
possible that for the moment every
Japanese carrier has been sunk or
Is in dockyard hands undergoing
repair. The carrier has been the
spearhead Of most of the japanese
naval offensive thrusts and the jap
anese may well be reluctant to risk
a large-scale operation until they
have at least one or two carriers
to oppose to ours.
May Extend Island Bases.
Another possibility is that the
Japanese are hard at work improv-
ing and extending their system OF
island air bases in order to gain
greater fexibility for their land
based aircraft and to enable their
air forces in the Southwest Pacific
to be more rapidly reinforced from
home bases.
This would involve the construc-
tion of additional fields, hangers. re-
pair facilities and fuel storage. Sub
ject to limitations of radius Of &C
ton from operating bases it would
do something to Offset their def
cheney in carriers. and 1t would have
the additional virtue of contributing
greatly to their defensive system in
case they are thrown back on the
defensive. It is particularly neces-
sary for the Japanese to have
greater flexibility now because their
air force is declining in strength
and every unit must therefore be
employed to its fullest efficiency.
Even more with aircraft than with
naval vessels, bases mean ships"
the more efficient, numerous and
well located the bases the greater
the fighting power to be gotten from
q given number of aircraft.
But there is still another consid-
Grafton which may be giving the
Japanese cause for seeking to gain
time and that is the question of
industrial materials and fuels. When
Japan went to war she did so in
the full knowledge that for the time
being she would be cut off from her
main sources Of iron and oil. BY
assembling reserve stocks her lead
ers hoped to tide her over until
military victory had given them ac-
cess to new sources of supply In
Malaga, Burma and the Netherlands
indies. However, these regions have
no industry Of their own. To use
the acquired materials 1t is neces-
sary to transport them to Japan,
where the industrial plants are 10
Gated. Here and here only they
can be transformed into ships,
weapons and aircraft.
Must Repair Damages.
Moreover q vast amount Of sab
otage on mines, oil wells and re-
fineries has been carried out-just
how thoroughly is not known in de-
tail. It probably varies in different
localities. The Japanese have to
repair this damage before they can
begin to cash in on their invest
ment, 50 to speak.
They must also repair damage to
port installations In order to load
ships with cargo for transfer to
the waiting Japanese factories.
This general problem of exploiting
the new areas of conquest is prob
ably the major economic war prob
lem now confronting the Japanese.
They have been in possession Of
their new empire" for q year. Dur
ing this time they must have been
able to do a great deal of repair and
restoration. Impressed labor Is
available in practically unlimited
amounts. But the transportation
Of these materials to Japan is an
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