Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1942-12-27
China
Key to
Victory
Experts Foresee
An.Ou+ Blow at
Japs as Climax
BY FRANK II. BARTHOLOMEW

20. (UP)-The Pacific war
will end in all probability in
a crushing blow against Jap
an from the Chinese mainland, in
the opinion of informed circles as
expressed to the United Press.
Air attacks based in China, naval
operations in the China sea, and
general utilization of China's vast
manpoWer are factors which in
formed quarters believe will be COM
bined for a final successful smash
which will bring peace again to
the Pacific.
The navy is watching with in
tense interest, in consequence, the
present British attacks on Burma
to determine whether it is the OPEN
ing phase.
NIMITZ PLEASED
Adm. Chester w. NimitZ, 57-year-
old level-eTed Texan who has stead
lily reduced Japan'S sea strength by
naval engagements and submarine
action during the year he has COM
manded the Pacific fleet, views the
present situation in the southwest
Pacific as good and getting better.
Tactics of an offensive defense
decided upon by Nimitz when he
took over the SmOuldering chaos
which was Pearl Harbor year ago
have proved successful as a sum
total and may be expected TO con-
tinue into l943 with increasing mo-
mentum by mid-year as new ships
come off ways on the mainland and
additional damaged ships from
Pearl Harbor return to service.
The naval chiefs are not discount
ing the fact that Japan, as long as
she can retain afloat her remaining
complement of carrier and surface
forces, has the capacity to attempt
another raid on Hawaii
WEATHER FAVORS JAPS
The weather moves around the
world from west to cast and the
Japanese, if willing to pay the price.
could attempt to advance toward
Hawaii under cover of the weather
front or could count upon retiring
into the protective curtain of wealth
er after a ht-and-run raid.
Pearl HarbOr, under the drive and
magnetic leadership of Nimitz, is to-
day one or the greatest naval bases
on the globc-far stronger than
when the first japanese plane APP
peared on the southeast horizon
Dec. 7, 194l-and ever day will
find it further strengthened and
expanded. Mainland shIpyards and
aircraft factories shift by shift are
increasing further and undoubted
lead over tho japanese in the rate
of construction of new fighting
craft.
LESS VULNERABLE
Hence, Hawaii and the Pacific
coast which it protects are daily
less vulnerable to attack, a fact
which indicates an enemy attempt
may be made soon, if ever.
The past year under Nimitz al
ready has seen Japan's power stead
lily reduced from the possibility of
a successful invasion in force which
existed on the heels of the initial
blitz, down a diminishing scale of
danger, to the present possibility of
raid by aircraft carriers.
The graph has not been unvary-
ing. We have had painful losses of
carriers and cruisers. But they have
unfalling been equalized and more;
as Nimitz says:
HOW MUCH LONGER
Each succeeding battle has been
of increasing importance, our
strength has grown steadily and we
have extended ourselves little
more. The process still is going on
How long will the war last?
1T won't be over until the JapS
are crushed" Nimitz said in reply
TO the question at his last press
conference. We will not undereSti-
mate them. They are trained from
childhood in the arts of war and
they will fight this one to the last
gasp. That is why it will be so
long"
But how long!
Il forgot to bring my crystal ball
down here Nimitz said, smiling.
CLher sources offer varying per-
sonal opinions and the consensus
as gathered by the United Press
from them is five full years more.
All. practically without exception,
think Germany will be crushed first
and that Japan never will quit
nh .,I. 10 -,