Evening star., 1942-01-13
Singapore Believed
OF Lille Use Until
Air Bases Are Rewon
Tide of Bottle Is Seen
Turning When Top-CIoss
Allied Units Enter Fight

ttOS VI OOttIS - SSSu
Turning When Top-CIoss
Allied Units Enter Fight
BY LELAND STOWE.
Foreign Correspondent of The Star and
Chicago Daily News.
RANGOON. Jan. 13.-The first
five weeks of the Pacific war already
have established several important
cardinal principles about the Allies
future Job of defeating Japan. AL
though newly established, these
principles are long term in essence.
They may 60 far toward charting
the ultimate elimination of hippo
nese totalitarianism throughout
Eastern Asia. Among them the fol-
lowing seem interchangeable:
l. The Pacific war must be won
first and foremost in the air. with
the striking power of both the
naval and land forces of the Allies
determined by the degree Of Allied
aerial predominance.
z. Because this is true, the most
vital points in the Far East for
British, Americans. Dutch and
Chinese alike are those from which
Allied air squadrons can provide
offensive opportunities for land or
sea forces. In other words. Singa-
pores great naval base will remain
virtually useless until the japanese
air bases on the Malayan Peninsula
and Thailand can be cleaned out
by our aviation.
5. 1t is already an established
fact that American and British
pilots are superior to Japanese and
that even our older models can
Outright and severely punish both
Japanese fighters and bombers.
Therefore, the tide of the Pacific
war will begin to turn just as soon
as units of first-class British and
American aircraft are thrown into
the battle in any considerable num-
bers anywhere in the Orient.
Time Valuable Factor.
4. The entire course and length
of the Pacific war will be governed
by the amount of time the Allies are
able to gain through bitter resist
ance during the next month or two.
In this respect the gallant struggles
Of Gen. Douglas MacArthurs little
Philippine army and of the British
and Indian forces in Malaga may
we'll spell the eventual doom of the
Japanese. Every day and every week
gained in these two sectors hastens
the time when the invaders will be-
gin to pay heavily for their con-
quests. Thus, loss of the entire
Philippines would be infinitely of less
Importance than the length OF time
they are able to hold out. and the
same principle applies to Malaga.
5. Whereas at the wars outbreak
Singapore and Manila might have
seemed most essential to the Allies,
It is now abundantly clear that
Burma and the Netherlands Indies
have a greater key and long-term
sisniicance. In regard to Burma,
washington, London and Chung
king alike are compelled to give It's
defense and fortiflcation the fore
most attention in its role OF a COM
bined aerial and land spearheao
against the Japanese aggressors:
The severe aerial setbacks inf1icted
on the Nipponese in the Burma sec
tor thus constitute an 1mmeasur-
able gain for the Allied cause.
Taking into consideration all these
factors. it is possible to say that
the Allies position in the Far East,
ern war theater. even though still
on the defensive, is considerably bet
ter than might have been expected
one month ago. More reverses and
perhaps some singing losses may
still occur, but on the long-term
basis the Allies military situation
has improved and is still improving,
however, slowly. If the United states
Fleet should be able to strike a teli-
ing blow in the near future the
constructive effect on all our Allied
activities throughout the Far East
might be very great.
Important In Burma and Malaga.
Nevertheless, the A. B. c. d. powers
must continue the fight for time
time to build up their air, lano ana
naval forces and armaments-ano
also to gain time as a seasonal
weapon and ally. This is especially
important in Burma and Malaga,
perhaps most of all in Burma. FOR
the rainy season begins in mld-May
at the latest and will bring two
things, mist and fog, rendering Jap
anese air activity in these sectors
almost negligible, coincident with
mud-soaked terrain and f1oooeo
rice paddles, which will be q for
midable barrier to the japanese
land forces. Unless the japanese
can conquer Malaga and most OF
Burma before the rainy season 1t
would appear virtually certain they
will never be able to do so.
Here. as with every vital factor
Of the Pacific war, the decisive
magnetic needle swings back 70
aviation's role in the anti-Japanese
conflict. So long as the Allies can
fight the Nipponese squadrons on
anything approaching even terms.
our land and sea initiatives will be
assured. That day is bound to come
and will determine everything the
Allies can achieve here in future.
But, meanwhile, certain Allied
spearheads in the Far East must
be held at all costs and one OF the
foremost of these is Burma.
In the battle to hold Burma. 1t
would be less than catastrophe II
the invaluable American lease-lend
war materials already stored here
in large quantities were not placed
Immediately at the disposal OF
Burma's defenders. This has been
done to some degree already but
q great deal more should and could
be done in this respect providing
Washington. London and Chung
king act with muchneeded speed.
Battles are usually won by those
who act the fastest.
Copyright, 1912, By CHICAGO Daily Newso