Evening star., 1942-08-30

Indo- China, the Netherlands Indies and
Burma.
The only solution for the problem
seems to lie in the chance that the
British will have such a strong force in
India as to crush any insurrection by
the Indians and defeat any Japanese
effort to break through the British de-
fenses.
1t Is doubtful whether the British
have such force at their disposal. Fear
of possible Nazi invasion of the British
Isles has compelled the government to
keep at home large majority of its
fully-trained forces. The desire to open
up second aerial front in Europe also
compels the British high command to
maintain large air force In the isles.
Since the British do not have facilities
for producing an unlimited number of
planes, and since the bulk of the best
trained forces has had to be kept in
England not more than Is per cent have
been sent to the Near East-the assump-
ton is that American-British forces in
the Indian peninsula are not sufficiently
strong to deal with both a heavy Japa-
nese attack and a possible insurrection.
The picture would be ugly, indeed, if 1t
were not for the presence of an imposing
American force in the South Pacific.
Japs Losing Advantages.
The Japanese do not possess the same
facilities as their Nazi allies for moving
troops and war material to theaters of
operation as much as 5000 miles away
from their main bases. So long as
United Nations forces were on the de-
fensive, occasionally raiding Japanese
convoy. Emperor Hirohito's fighters had
everything their own way.
If, however, the Allies continue their
offensive which began in the Solomon
Islands, the position of the Japs will de-
teriorate rapidly. After the first news of
the success of the Allied forces in the
South Pacific became known one men,
ber of the Pacific War Council said the
solution of the Indian problem is now in
the hands of Gen. Douglas Macarthur
and Vice Admiral Robert Lee Ghormley.
Leading naval and military strategists
In the United States have maintained
for many months that the japanese,
with their extended communication lines
and limited raw materials, are vulnerable
if determined offensive should be con-
Quoted against shipping lanes between
Japan and the South Pacific.
II took us several months to recover
from the initial japanese blows at Pearl
-Harbor and In the Pacific. The Japa-
nese general staff lacked the necessary
shlppink at . time when the Australians
were almost defenseless.
The situation has changed since then.
Between January and May we reinforced
the commonwealth, making it relatively
safe against Jap invasion. Since July
American naval air and military forces
have been increased in such numbers
that we are able to begin an offensive
which may have compelled the Japanese
to abandon plans for immediate attack
on Siberia.
Foe Not Underestimated.
If the speed at which we are strength
ening our forces in the South Pacific is
maintained, there is every reason to be-
lieve that within the next few weeks
American Australian forces will be in
position to pound the defenses of the
islands the japanese occupied between
last December and June of this year.
No one in Washington is disposed to
minimize the military qualities of the
Jap high command and It's fighting men,
Hitler's plans for a gigantic pincers
movement from East to West can be
thwarted by determined offensive on
the part of the American Australian
forces in the Pacific, provided such a
military operation is we'll sustained.