Evening star., 1942-02-06
WASHINGTON D. FRIDAY
Operation Of Pacific
Council in Washington
And London Disclosed
Experts Here Soy More
Reverses in Far East
Warfare Are Likely

Reverses in Far East
Warfare Are Likely
By the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt asserted
today that a Pacific council had
been in operation here and In
London for q month and that
there was very close cooperation
in its activities.
The Chief Executive, replying to
press conference questions, said the
council was handling questions Of
both q military and political nature
and that 1t had ofdces here and in
London.
Questions of q purely military
nature, he said, are referred to Army
and Navy chiefs Of staff while those
Of governmental or political char
acter are laid before the appropriate
governmental bodies in Washington
and in the British capital
He pointed out that the Dutch
government in exile has its head
quarters In London and that the
British dominions also are repre-
sented there.
In the A. B. D. A.-American,
British, Dutch, Australian-area,
Mr.. Roosevelt noted, the military
command is under the supreme di-
rection Of Gen. Archibald P. Wavell.
The President went on to say,
although he conceded it was a Slip
shod way Of putting it because it
was difficult to differentiate, that
operations on which Gen. Wavell
would make the decision might be
termed tactical whereas certain
long-range strategical questions
must be referred to Washington and
London.
These strategical problems are
those which may be divided into
strictly military and naval cate
gories or into political or govern
mental questions.
Where they have an element of
both the military and political, the
President said, they will be referred
both to political and military au-
thorities.
When questions must be referred,
he continued, two copies are made.
one for Washington and one for
London. In the event of disagree
ments-and he said there had been
none SO far-the problems are laid
before what he termed the higher
ups in the two capitals. Presumably
he meant himself and Mr.. Churchill.
Replying to question, Mr.. Roose-
welt declared New Zealand definitely
was represented in the Pacific Coun-
Gil. He was reminded that New
Zealand's Minister to Washington
had spoken Of setting up q strategic
area outside the A. B. D. A. region
which would embrace New Zealand
with an American as its top exec
| utive.
Those are things which have beer
discussed right along. Mr.. Roosevelt
remarked, but he said his questionei
was getting into too detailed a field
Mr.. Roosevelt's discussion Of the
councils operations conceded with
talk IN authoritative Army and
Navy circles that the situation OF
Allied forces in the Western Pacific
was very serious and that still fur
ther reverses could be expected.
While recognizing the achieve.
ments Of defenders in the Philip
pines, Singapore and the Dutch
Indies and allowing for japanese
losses of more than 100 ships and
thousands Of men, these authorities
grimly declared that only the de-
livery Of huge reinforcements-dif.
ficult If not impossible at this time
would turn the tide Of battle against
the enemy.
The Japanese were said still tt
possess the great advantages o.
time and initiative seized in theil
sneak attack on Pearl Harbor two
months ago tomorrow. Theirs |!
the choice Of when and where t.
attack, and the costs they are pay
ing in troops and material wert
described as not too great for th'
advances they have made.
Japs Vulnerable at Many Points.
Effective reinforcements, especial
ly in warplanes, could block furthel
advances and hold the threatened
bastions still in Allied hands, it wa
said, for the Japanese position hal
become vulnerable at many points
AS strategists here view the enem,
gains in two months of incessant
action, the japanese have:
]. Prevented offensive use of thu
Pacific Fleet for many weeks by the
raid on Pearl Harbor.
2. Forced the Asiatic Fleet to with.
draw from its Philippines bases ano
pushed the American defense force.
on the islands into a last ditch stanc
on Batan Peninsula and In the fort.
covering Manila Bay.
3. Completely overrun the Malay
Peninsula and put the British bas.
of Singapore under siege with over
whelming forces after having de-
stroyed the mainstays Of British
naval power in the Orient-th,
Battleship Prince Of Wales and tn.
Battle Cruiser Repulse.
4. Made landings at various points
in the Netherlands Indies so tha
without waiting for the fall of eithel
the Philippines or Singapore, the!
are already able to bomb such Dutch
bases as Soerabaja, on which effec'
tive defense of the Indies depend.
S. Captured Moulmein and ad
vanced toward the Burma road
threatening to cut the artery OF
which China depends for the lease
lend munitions she needs to con
tinue the war.
Despite these spectacular sue
cesses, which have required th'
transportation of troops and supplies
more than 1000 miles from Japan
the enemy forces have shown N
sign Of slowing down or of en-
countering opposition which thei
audacious strategy had not providet
for.
Attack on Australia Feared.
The more pessimistic amonl
Washington observers fear that thiI
means various Allied strong DOinti