The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-10-08
EcoHoA16 . /.
eM9hA9h4
National and International Problems
Inseparable from Local Welfare

Before Pearl Harhor, the feeling was
generally held in this country that
Japan was a third-rate military power
which could be Soundly defeated in a
matter of weeks or months. Alleged
experts had long written that Japan's
military equipment was inferior, that
her navy was in no way a match for
ours, and that she was on the verge
of economic collapse Since December
Il, we have learned how tragically
wrong those experts We're. japanese
design and construction. japanese army
striking power is very great, and her
generals know the, art of warfare. The
individual japanese soldier is crafty,
brave, cruel, fearless of death, and
determined on victory.
Up to recently, the bulk of the
American people also held another
theory concerning Japan. They be-
|lieved that the majority of the Jap
|anese people We're pacific and desirous
of peace, and that the nation was
thrust into war by handful of war
lords who controlled the japanese
army, navy and civil government. Once
Japanese forces Were given sharp set
backs by the United Nations, many
reasoned. the warlordS would lose face
lat home and the present military gov
ernment would be replaced by pOpu-
lar government which would sue for
peace
That is a heartening theory, perhaps
but, unfortunately, men who are in
the best position to understand the
japanese character have small faith
lin it. Ambassador Grew, who repre-
sented the United States in Tokyo for
ten years, and who recently returned
to this country as part of the exchange
of diplomats between belligerents, has
made Il number of extremely interest
ling speeches and statements on the sub
ject. Mr.. Grew says in essence, that
japanese leaders have completely
sold" the Japanese people on this war.
Anti-British and anti-American propa-
.ganda has been an official japanese
activity for many years, and has been
carefully nurtured by the controlled
Jap press and radio. The unspeakable
treatment given captured United Ma
tons soldiers by the Japanese in Hong
Kong and elsewhere, is the direct re-
Election Of that propaganda. The ordi-
nary japanese trooper reflects the
point of view of the common people
of Japan - and he is as cruel and
fanatical as his leaders.
The civilian population of Japan has
accepted, apparently willingly, sacri-
|fces which are almost Incredible In
Japan everything is rationed. The
clothing and the food available for
civilians is qualiatively and quaint
tatiVely bad-evcrything must go 10
the army and navy. The masses of the
people exc out AN existence on rations
(which would cause swift starvation in
most countries. But they don't com
plain. They are convinced that the
price is well worth paying for the
glorious destiny which their Samurai
ImendouSly long hours, and they have
little rela XatiOn and no luXurieS. Prices
have gone up While wages have re
|mained stationary. Yet they look for
ward with confidence and longing to
the day when the United States and
Britain will be crushed, and Jap lead
erS will dictate harsh peace terms III
conquered Washington and London.
In the view of some realists, the
Jap may in the long run, prove to be
"a tougher nut than the German. In the
last war, Germany cracked fast once
she began to suffer severe defeats The
.Teutonic fanaticiSm is hardly on the
same scale as that of the Oriental with
his implicit faith that death in battle
will be followed by an eternity in the
happieSt and most abundant OF
heavens. The Japanese people, these
authorities argue, will never accept
defeat, or ask for peace They will 80
on fighting and increase their bar
barrie practices 10 the very end
iThercforc, the only way to beat Japan
lis to Scourge her at home. 1t is I'M
portant that we lake back the terri
tories she has conquered, with their
rich resourceS-but it will not prove
decisive
The Japanese Islands are roughly
'about the size of the single state OF
Montana. Inside some 100000 square
ImileS are all the Japanese centerS OF
population, all tn" Japanese factories
all the Japanese facilities of produC-
|tiOn and transport and distribution
Due TO her lack of coal she has at
'tained an extraordinarily high degree
'ot electrilication, md the bulk of her
industries are powered from Il series
|of hydro-electrc installations in the
Before she can be crushed
|it is likely that il will be necessary 10
knock out these Installations, and make
her induStrially impotent. And that
will require air raids on an unprece-
'dented scale. 1t is generally believed
THAT her dcfenSeS against raids, in her
II NO 81 no