United States-British Chiefs of Staff, Defense of Island Bases Between Hawaii and Australia, January 13, 1942

U.S. SERIAL ABC-4/8
BRITISH SERIAL WW    (J.P.C.) 8
 
January 10, 1942.
 
JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE
 
REPORT FOR           THE CHIEFS OF STAFF
                      COMMITTEE
 
     DEFENSE          OF    ISLAND BASES
 
BETWEEN HAWAII AND AUSTRALIA
 
         1.    There is under development and approaching completion,
an air route suitable for the use of both long and medium range
aircraft and extending from Hawaii to Australia. Airdromes are located
at Palmyra, Christmas, Canton, American Samoa, Fiji, and New Caledonia.
In addition to their use as staging points along the air route, all of
these islands are valuable outposts of the defenses of the Hawaiian
Islands or of New Zealandand Australia. They will serve also as
operating bases for naval and air forces.
 
         2.    In addition to its military importance, New Caledonia is
an important Japanese objective, since it is the principal readily
accessible source of supply for nickel, of which the Japanese have at
present only a limited supply. At present the total output of nickel is
shipped to the United States. In emergency this source of supply could
be denied to the Japanese for some time by the destruction of the blast
furnaces, power supply, and limited loading facilities.
 
         3.    It is planned also to establish at Borabora, in the
Society Islands, which are under Free French jurisdiction, a base for
refuelling naval vessels
and other shipping en route to and from the Southwest Pacific.
 
        4.    The defense of all the island positions along the route,
depends ultimately upon their support by naval and air forces.
The~final strength of forces recommended herein is based on the length
of time which in present circumstances may elapse before naval and air
support can be made effective. The strength of the forces required will
have-to be kept under constant review. In the present situation, the
Japanese appear to be able to attack New Caledonia or Fiji at an early
date with a force of at least one infantry division, supported by
strong naval and air forces.
 
        5.    The present garrisons of the island bases are inadequate
to hold out unsupported against the attacks of which the Japanese are
capable. The degree
Text Version
