The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-05-07
Economic
~M9hA9hA
National and International Problems
Inseparable from Local Welfare

ne daring daylight alf faluS on the
principal Japanese cities brought new
hope new resolve, to all the United
Nations For the first time, the war
has been taken straight home to the
iheart of the enemy. The japanese peo-
lple have at last had Il taste of what
death and destruction from the skies
lis like. And, vitally important, these
raids are the forcrunners of great
things to come.
Many experts are convinced that
IJapan'S weakest point is her industrial
areas. They are concentrated in Il
relatively small number of localities.
Her cities suburbs are spotted with
Vital aircraft, munitions and other war
IplantS. Out of those plants come the
| supplies which make it possible for
| her to maintain her ever-lengthcning
| lines of conquest. Out of her Shipyards
| come the ships TO replace the vessels
lSunll or put out of action by United
| Nations Warcraft. Destroy Il large
Ipart of these industrial installations
and JapanS capacity to wage war
land to consolidate her victories Will
he ended
At the same time, there is consider
liable misunderstanding in this country
las 10 Japan'S vulnerability to incen-
ldiary attacks. Many people believe that
Japanese cities consist of nothing but
|tiny paper and wooden homes and
buildings which would burst into
flame ut the touch of Il match. That
lis true of many Japanese residential
areas. IT is definitely not true of her
industrial plants. They are as well
Ibuilt as any in this country. They are
lmade of steel and concrete, precisely
as ours, and they were built with an
Ieye 10 the possibility of attack from
the air. And they are protected with
heavy, concentrations of antiaircraft
and fighter planes.
On top of that, it is probable that no
IpcOplc on earth is better SchOOlcd in
| fire defense than the Japanese. For
many years, the government has made
IthiS kind of instruction obligatory, and
livery elaborate preparations have been
Imadc tO prevent cOmilagratiOnS. IRE
lmcndouS sums have been spent for fire
Fighting equipment Japan has had
Imany great fires in the past the bulk
I0f them caused by earthquakes, and
IthC experience gained has been aggrcS-
ISively put TO use.
TO materially harm the Japanese
WAR effort, therefore, will be hard
slow and costly ioI. II will require
tremendous numbers Of major bomb
IerS, and vast amounts of high eXplo-
sive and inccndary bombs. II is likely
that the first Allied raids were in the
nature Of "fcclcrs,' to give an idea of
IWhat can be done in the future.
| What are the best bases for United
| Nations raids on Japan? There are
several answers to that. 1t is possible
for the largest ruuI-rngincr bombcr%
10 make the flight from Australia or
IAIaSila, but they would have to ma
Itcrially reduce their bomb load in or
der to carry sufficient cas-. Further.
iOn@ UNcr-Watcr flights are risky anN
costly. 1t is said that we still have air
fields in some of The Philippine Islands
land they, of course, provide ideal
points for operations. The distance is
livery short and maximum bomb loads
could be carried There are many
points in China which are equally good
|To use Chinese bases, however, will
Imcan that great quantities of supplies