The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-02-12
Economic . .
M9hA9hA
National and International Problems
Inseparable from Local Welfare

1t is not possible at this time to de-
Itail all the events and circumstances
which led to Japan's victories in the
Pacific. But the broad outlines are
clear. We underestimated the extent
land the striking power of the Japanese
lair and naval forces. We were over
confident. We did not turn the Philip
IpineS and the lesser islands into the
kind of bastiOns which could have re-
Hike the rest of the democracieS, were
lethargic we wiShfully disregarded
the writing on the wall. According to
Walter Lippman, Japan must have
ISpent at least eighteen months prepar-
ing for an attack on so vast a scale.
But few Americans believed war was
actually coming in the Pacific.
Bright spot in the Philippine war has
been the superb fighting spirit shown
Iby the American and Filipino troops
commanded by General Macarthur,
Iwho seems TO have fully lived up to
his reputation as the ablest American
general officer. MacArthur's forces
were tremendously outnumbered. Their
equipment was inferior to that of the
Japanese. After the early days of fight
ling, they had no air power to speak Of
Yet they made the enemy pay Il tre-
ImendOuS toll in men and material for
Ievery inch of ground taken and, at this
writing, they have entrenched them
SELVES on LuZOn Island north of lost
Manila and ON the great fortress of
ICorregidor in Manila Bay, and are
continuing the fight
Many have wondered why MacAr-
thur was not given substantial L. $.
naval aid. In the opinion of the Strate
giStS, ii would have been suicidal for
the Navy to have sent ma iOr fleet
forces in an attempt TO save Manila.
japan has big naval bases in FormOSa
and on the inundated islands, some of
which are well under thousand miles
from LuZOn. Our forces nearest ma iOr
base is many thousands of miles away
from the scene of action at Pearl
IIarbor. Furthermore, while LuzOn is
important, it is not vital. What the
Allied Pacific powers must attempt
Ito say" at alI costs in Singapore, which
lis the key TO the entire Far East, in
Icludin@ the rich Dutch East Indies. All
possible Allied strength must be con
Served for the decisive land SEA and
lair battle which will soon take place
along the Malayan peninsula. The com
nt
must take the long view, and look 10
the winning of the war, not the scat
tered, costly victories which might I'M
peril the major campaign.
II is often SairT that the prime OBJ
.jective of this war is the destruction
Japan and IIitler'S other allies can be
taken care of in their turn. The news
which comes out of Russia is immense
lily encouraging to the Allied powers.
IIhp German rOUt continues, and the
obstruction of German divisions and
German equipment is on an almost in
IcrcdibIC scale. The Russian command
IuoW says that il means to press for
ward until Germany itself is turned
into Il battlefield And in libya, the
British have won II victory which may
IprOyr of immense Importance to the
eventual winning of the entire war.
This country is now, for the first
Time, realizing what modern war
ImCanS. The order freezing sales of new
motor cars and prohibiting the produc-
L. t,Ii
IcatoS the way he wind blows. 1t may
Ihr expected that our lives Will be revo-
Iulionzcd. with astonishing speed
There will be no luXuricS at all, and
Imany seeming necessities will be fore
gone or produced in bare minimum
quantities. At this moment, we are
spending about - per cent of our ma
ItionaI income for war purposes. by
the end of TN" year we Will, If TN"
IpIanS 90 through, he spending rs much
las % per cent. What that will mean
no the civilian standard of living is
I"aSily seen.
Yet there is no grumbing. Right
.Wmgrrs and -WingerS, labor leaders
land biz induslrialiSts, Democrats AMI
land Republicans alike, agree that an
.all-out effort, with all the priyationS
-CntHilcd, musl be- made. There is much
of Administration methods,
but uo criticism of Administration long
.pull uhicctiNcs. Ii is significant that in
the civil government, as in th" armed
forces, changes are being made in eN-
H.. 4 !