Show Behind the War News 1 I rM B By Major I Paul C. C Noted Military Analyst 1 NEW YORK INS INS from Washington confirm confirm confirm con con- firm the fact that the raging Solomon sea battles infernos battles infernos of fire and steel fought in blackness black black- ness ness have have for the moment stopped the Japanese armadas and sent them reeling back on their heels If not completely defeated they are at least staggering staggering staggering stag stag- gering from the many mortal wounds inflicted by our battle fleet This most recent sea conflict has proved many things Without Without Without With With- out doubt the world has never neverseen neverseen neverseen seen a more terrific naval bat bat- tle Prior to our entry in this I war many persons were in inclined inclined inclined in- in to believe that the Japanese Japanese Japanese Jap Jap- anese navy was negligible a-negligible unit which would be scattered i in defeat defeat defeat de de- de- de feat the moment our warships delivered one good full broad broad- side However at that time every United States naval officer officer of of- officer of rank and experience that I talked to always said without reservation reservation-if if and when our fleets and the Japanese Japanese Japanese Jap Jap- anese cross swords in action the world will see the worst naval battles known to history The Merrimac and the Monitor Monitor Monitor Moni Moni- tor in our Civil war stood in at close range and slugged it out but no projectile in that war could compare with the terrific explosive and penetration ability ability ability abil abil- ity of the modern mo piercing armor-piercing shell The listed total naval losses losses- Japanese ships and United States 84 to 84 to date in this war give mute testimony as to the terrific and out all-out nature of these sea and air battles In the latest and most deadly of our sea fights with Japan the reported high officers killed in action at it their battle stations sta sta- Rear Rear Admiral Daniel J. J Callaghan and Captain Cassin Young both on board the cruiser San Francisco and Rear Admiral Admiral Admiral Ad Ad- miral Norman Scott on the In Indianapolis Indianapolis Indianapolis In- In presents irrefutable evidence to every person in the democracies of the terrific battles battles battles bat bat- our armed forces are throwing throwing throwing throw throw- ing at close range into the Nipponese Nipponese Nipponese Nip Nip- ponese fighting machine for the the sake of the four freedoms Secondly this most recent naval battle in the vicinity of Guadalcanal should make every person in the United States I realize that the criticisers of our our I war production effort our armed forces and the strategic manner manner manner man man- ner in which our supreme commander commander commander com com- mander and his high command are conducting this war have been entirely wrong and their many criticisms are without any foundation of fact I I I Admiral Chester W. W Ni Nim has stated the battle was overwhelming American na victory which has solidified positions on Guadalcanal isla Islar and will lead eventually toll toll expulsion of the Japanese fr fre that area However Secret Secreta of Navy Knox wisely war warnot w wai l not to be overly informs us that the great b tie tle may still go into a deai deac third round We should all aIll allf r member that to stop a Jap must be killed This plies to their fighting vess as long as any are afloat M Thirdly the Solomon fig in ing proves that our area war effort is bel be fought under one over all over st plan and under oneT onel preme command A of greatest importance t to toil t far eastern war is that o 0 armed forces keep open t united nations nations' supply line Australia This has been is being done Of equal impo imp tance the Japanese drive had to be stopped Tr was accomplished at Guada Guadi canal jm More than that though lit though not generally recognized recognized-o armed forces have actually g go into the offensive t Japanese General MacArthu northern spearhead of this i sir sa a action is aimed at the of the Japanese from New G nea and his planes are t cont attacking to destroy 1 Japanese bases at B Band Bt Bl Bland and other islands to the north Guadalcanal JI The Japanese navy in the S omon islands has played a ga ga of hide and They comer of their island protection for fo run hit attack each t hoping our fleet will follow tt th back into an ambush Our ns na command has refused to fooled by their trick 1 I Once the supreme comma comm has stabilized the fighting it is most probable t these forces will start northward to form a jun ti with General MacArthurs MacArthur's fig ing units and thus clear Japanese from all of the isla Islar isLar that are north of Guadalcanal north of New Ireland The Th The s 1 of this it Jv pronged offensive will throw the Japanese land landFair lands air forces in the area int into T r defensive action i dont don't forget the Japanese n nis na is still strong and a fig figh ti unit that will only be extern by to chest-to-chest and te tc toe to-toe slugging S 1 |