Evening star., 1942-03-11
Original Aim in War
Already Attained
By Jap Forces
Where Next?' Is Big
Question; Signs Point
To Australia
BY GLENN BABB,
Wide World News.

BY GLENN BABB,
Wide World News.
NEW YORK, March 1.-THE con-
quest of Java ends the first phase
of the war in the Pacific.
Except for few mopp:ng-up jobs,
the japanese have gathered in ali
the areas they had declared def
nitely belonged to their greater
East Asia co-prosperity sphere"
This conquest of one of the worlds
richest empires has been accom-
plished in little more than three
months.
For weeks it has been obvious that
the general staffs in Toxic have
been wrestling with the question,
where neXt?"
Perhaps the decision already has
been reached and the invasion ar
madas are on the water. Time is
vital and the course on which Japan
set out when she challenged the
United States and Britain permits
of no pauses for rest.
Several choices confront the MILL
tary masters of Japan. OF these,
three obviously take precedence:
The invasion of Australia or New
Zealand, or both; a drive into india
and across the Indian Ocean 10
Alden and Madagascar and East
Africa; a smash at the ancient enc
nv, Russia, on the north.
Australia Seen Next.
Other possibilities, such as an
eastward thrust at Hawaii or along
the northern rim of the Pacific
against Alaska and Canada, doubt
less have been studied in detail,
but probably have been marked
for another stage.
The signs point to Australia. The
other two adventures are recon-
mended by powerful lures and PROP
ably also by urgent arguments from
Adolf Hitler, but the japanese, VINO
realize they are fighting for their
national life as well as Tor booty,
must. it appears, put Australia hrSt.
However, Japanes ambitions, II
has been shown, cover all the west
ern shores of the Pacific and almost
the whole perimeter OF the WORLDS
second largest ocean, the Indian.
Then there is the magic attrac-
tion of India for conquerors OF all
the ages. For Japan there is also
the possibility of combining the ire
mendous populations of India ana
China in one dominion OF more
than a billion souls-more than
ever bowed to one master In history.
And most officers of the japanese
ARMY have been brought up on the
tradition of Russia as the hereol-
tary enemy. Many will argue that
the northern problem" calls Tor
the first solution.
Essential to Pincer Move.
For those who accept the thesis
of Axis solidarity-and these In
clude many japanese generals-the
urgency of the Indian and SIBERIAN
adventures would seem greatest.
Japanese attacks in those areas
would be essential to the clamplng
on of the huge pincers through the
Indian Ocean and into Russla'S
western and eastern territories
which many strategists envlsage as
the purpose of the campaigns OF the
coming spring and summer.
Hitler's agents must be dlnnlng
these arguments into Japanese ears.
But the logic of events is pro-
pelling the japanese armies and
fleets toward Australia. There alone
can they prevent the undolng OF
all their triumphS.
In a sense the major strategic
consideration is defenSlve-ln the
sense that a beast of prey fights to
keep the quarry he has struck down.
Australia is the base where the
American British counteroffenSlVe
can be prepared.
Japans main hope of deprivlng
the growing might OF the United
States of a foothold from which 1t
can strike in the Western Pacific lies
in seizing Australia and perhaps
New Zealand before the stream OF
American conveys can make those
lands secure for the white man.
Battle Already Begun.
Japanese landings on New Guinea
mean that the battle of Australia
already has begun. In fact, it be-
gan six weeks ago when the Japa-
nese seized Rabaul, on New Britain,
a scant 500 miles from the Austria
lian mainland. 1t moved forward
another 100 miles with the seizure
of Timor
The bombings of Darwin and
other Australian points were part
of the period of feeling out and soft
ening up.
The defenders can only conjec-
ture at the part of Australians H.
2l0-mile coaStline on which the blow
will fall. Landings on the northern
coasts might succeed, but then there
would be desert interior to be ira
versed before the great industrial
centers of the east and south coast
could be menaced.
This consideration might lead to
landing attempts much farther
south.
Besides, the japanese, confident
of their ability to throw expeditions
across wide stretches of water,
might thrust first at New Zealand
in an effort to halt American aid
l.50O miles short of Australia.
She may count that New Zealand,
whose population of 1,640,000 is less
than a fourth of Australia's 7,000,-
600, would be much easier prey,