Evening star., 1942-02-18
le r-fung nature


sea and by air are the essential
factors in the present war.
This means that transportation of
Americas resources and man power
to the distant corners of the earth
takes time-months and months of
time, not Just days or hours. The
headlines and brief official COM
muniques tell fragmentary details
of the worldwide struggle, but only
when pieced together into a long
range pattern can they be under
stood.
The poise of a nation is closely
related to its morale War is not a
single chapter but several chapters,
and in the end wars are won by reso-
lutte nations which possess the su-
perior facilities to transform re-
sources into weapons and which
can mobilize the most man power
capable of using such weapons effec-
lively.
Taussig Plea Shunted Aside.
Japan has scored initial successes.
They are unwelcome but they are
not unexpected. Every academic
war plan for quarter of a century
has presupposed that Japan would
win the bases she has just taken if
Britain, France and America were
not united in the Pacific or if their
energies were diverted elsewhere.
Admiral Taussig, one of the smartest
strategists in the American Navy,
who sits on the sidelines today be-
cause he innocently incurred the
disfavor of the President, begged
our Government in April, 1910, to
form naval agreement with
France for occupation of bases in
do-China and for collaboration
with the British and Dutch in the
Far East, but it wasn't done and the
United States and Britain have
been caught in a two-ocean war
without the necessary preparation or
forces on the Far Eastern scene.
But this does not mean that an
occupation OF Western Pacific bases
will never be possible. The answer
to the future lies In the building
of 100000 tons Of American ship
ping this year and a two-ocean
Navy and powerful air force by
next year. It may take all of 1912
to build up the power needed to get
started on general offensive. But
that we shall have such offensive
power by early 1943 need not be
questioned.
Japan Miscalculates.
The japanese know all this is COM
ing. That's why they wanted to get
there first They thought to dis
suade us and make the adventure
cost us a frightful toll. But
they have miscalculated the moral
fiber of the Anglo-SaXon race,
Temporary successes in Singapore,
Dutch East Indies and the Philip
pines do not mean systematic flow
of raw materials for Japan because,
first, oil wells and factories in oc-
cupied areas have to be rebuilt, and
second, the lines of supply back to
the main base-Japan's mainland
will be harasSed more and more in
the weeks and months to come by a
reinforced American and British
Fleet.
Japan has gained time and we
have lost it by reason of our defeat
at Pearl Harbor and because of our
necessary preoccupation in the At
lantic. America has had to keep a
vigilant eye on the Eastern Atlantic.
American bases in Iceland and
North Ireland, for example, mean
protection for New York, Boston and
our Atlantic Coast because through
those seas most of the German
capital ships and submarines must
60 to emerge for their raids.
Use Only Possible Strategy. d.
The German strategy is like the
Japanese-to hit at as many pos
sible points of the earth's surface
so as to keep Allied naval and air
forces dispersed. It's the natural
strategy for the beligerents who
know they are potentially inferior
In strength. In fact, it's the only
strategy. But, conversely, as the
offensive strength of the United
States and Britain Is built up the