Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-28
Singapore
Attack Would
Bring Us In
Date Of Entry Depends
on Events, Not Defense
By PAUL MALLON

N ASflIN1l YIN, Jan. 20.
w The question of when and
where we get in the war is,
agitating as much inner discus
sion as outside. The rough gen.
eral term "in the Spring" has
been used glibly in most discus
Sions.
It is true all United States
wars. except one tthe war of
1922, have been started in
April. The revolution started
April 10: the Mexican War.
April 25; the Civil War. April
Is; the Spanish War. April u,
and the World War, April 16.
But the situation is different
this time. If left 10 military
men las apparently it has been
in the pasD. our involvement
would certainly be delayed until
we are fully prepared, Which
will not be any time this year.
We may not be able to choose
the time. however. in view of
commitments which the admin
istration has made and may
make in both its Atlantic and
Pacific policies.
THE first break could most
l. easily come in the Far East.
There it could develop swiftly at
any time from now on. If the
Japanese move southwark and
attempt to bottle up Singapore.
/ believe the established policy
will require United States naval
action to keep that whole half
of the British empire from 60
ing under.
Singapore the SUuTCp OF
British authority in that half of
I the world. Her fleet is occupied
elsewhere. British pressure
would be terrific upon us TO
thwart this leap upon her back.
Our navy has war plans for
the disposal of ships in the Far
East which should ruin the Japa-
nese venture in comparatively
short time. Her lines of COM
munication from Malay to the
homeland could be cut.
HOW long the japanese could
H last against US is a matter
of disagreement among the ex-
perts. Unlike the Italians. the
Japanese are savage fighters
against overwhelming odds. Our
fleets are now about equal in the
Pacific. Ours is far more eff
cient. better manned. We could
hurt domestic japanese produc-
ton by bombing from seaplanes.
Her factory districts are made
up of an endless collection of adj
joining wooden shacks.
The japanese fleet might not
dare go far beyond home waters.
Our west coast would be in no
serious danger of air bombings.
At best we would expect victory
in year AT most. two years.
THE other visible prospect Of
carly involvement is obv-
Gus. If our navy starts convoy
ing ships TO Britain. they will
certainly be attacked on sight by
German submarines or airplanes,
and the shooting will start right
there.
II is only matter of time
until the British will need con-
Voy assistance They saved the
threatening convoy crisis so
days back by shifting naval units
from the Mediterranean TO con-
voy duty The number of ships
they can put into this service is.
however, limited So is the
trained personnel.
Therefore, il is reasonable 10
expect that some time soon. a
pressure drive for American par
ticipation through this means
will be encountered.
If the war breaks prematurely
that way, it is likely TO become
purely naval conflict of long
duration.
We could not bring our fleet
into the Atlantic in view of
Japans treaty commitment to 90
To war against us if Germany
does. The outcome would depend
on factors now incalculable. such
as now long Britain lasts at
home, Nazi production in the
seized shipyards, our own pro-
duction. etc.
1 MOST other possibilities now
A'A being discussed are remote.
If Britain falls. her government
and fleet would presumably re-
treat to these shores and the
struggle thereafter might well
develop into a long -drawn-out
race to build ships for a new
kind of guerilla warfare on the
eeaS.-
our cities seem to be in nc
danger of attack from the air
in any. event, for a very long
time in the future. Nor is any
German attack likely TO be made
under any circumstances for
months or perhaps years upon
South America or the island