Evening star., 1941-12-26

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for far-off the g ID
aterS of war. David Lawrence.
The United States has never been
content to wage just defensive war.
Once challenged to battle, the mill
tant spirit of offense has always
been characteristic of the Army and
Navy. Congress has removed all
restrictions to the use of troops in
any part of the globe. The OBJ
jective now is to win and to supply
men and materials for any battle
front or sea area where it is feasible
to take up the gage of battle.
The Axis powers have had the
advantage of initial surprise and
attack and have kept Britain on
the defensive. Russia lately has
forced the Nazis to defensive
war. The British have swept Axis
forces back through Libya. The
next front may be in North Africa
or Spain or it may be through
Turkey.
But the battle on land is likely
to be less decisive now than the
struggle by air and sea to maintain
the naval outposts of the British
Empire in Singapore and the out
posts of Americas western defenses
in the Philippines.
Navy Moves Kept Secret.
Censorship as well as necessary
secrecy prevents the public from
knowing what has been happening
with respect to our naval forces in
the Pacific since December 7. We
do not know how many American
warships and submarines have come
or still are en- route from the At
lantic, If any. We do not know
how many bombers or fighter planes
have gone across the Pacific or
whether any troop transports are
underway or in what direction. The
Pacific is OF incredible area and 1t
is possible for a whole series OF
ship movements to be accomplished
without the enemy knowing a thing
about it. Scouting by air or ship
patrol is more matter of luck than
strategy in the Pacific.
About 19 days have elapsed since
Pearl Harbor suffered its attack.
In 10 days a feet can steam a big
distance and yet not be anywhere
near the main points Of defense.
There is very little theorizing here
on what the American battle feet
strategy happens to be and no secret
has been better kept. But unques-
tionably the time is approaching
when word must come and 1t would
not be surprising II the information
came first by way Of the Toxic
radio when contact with the enemy
has been attained.
Defense Of the Philippines Is not
discussed here. Everybody knows
that the Philippines always have
been vulnerable and yet Gen.
Macarthur has had a plan of de-
fense or rather a plan of delay
until American reinforcements could
arrive. Reinforcements by air are
vital now but with them must come
q substantial naval force to convoy
our supply ships. These are the ele-
ments OF any broad plan.
But how does the Philippine crisis
tie into the Churchill visit? Britain
obviously has her hands full in Sing
apore and the loss of the battleship
Prince Of Wales and cruiser Repulse
put crimp in British planning. But
the use of the submarine in this war
yet may prove more spectacular than
the airplane The Dutch are doing
magnificent job of submarine offense
In the waters around the East Indies.
American submarines can use Sing
apore and Dutch ports as bases.
This is something that can be ar
ranged by joint naval planning and
that is why the British Prime Min
lister and the Dutch authorities are
In vital consultations.
New Routes Probable.
Then there Is the problem Of re-
inforcing China so that back door
to Japan may be opened up. Certain
supply routes to China must be un-
dertaken-perhaps through places
hitherto unlocked for. America has
a tremendous amount of material
yet to furnish to her allies but she
has, on the other hand, certain big
amounts actually on hand. The fact
that the British campaign in Libya
Is going so successfully may mean
that much that has been going to
East African bases can now go to
other parts of the Indian Ocean.
For the next few weeks the head
lines may reveal the ups and downs
of the battle in the Philippines or
Malaya HIT sooner or later larger