Evening star., 1942-03-26
japanese Grand Struteoy

Ever since the fall Of Java, ap-
proximately three weeks ago, Japan's
long-range plans have been veiled in
mystery. Capture of the Dutch cita-
del, which severed the United Ma
tions' defense line, gave the Japa-
nese high command the choice Of
several major objectives. 1t could
launch grand assault on Australia,
on India, on Siberia, or even conceiv-
ably on America from Alaska through
Hawaii to the Panama Canal, though
this last does not seem an immediate
probability.
Thus far, Japan has not clearly
shown its hand. The attacks on Aus
tralia's outer defenses may be limited
operations to lock the back door to a
counteroffenSive against its newly
won Dutch Indies Similarly, the
vigorous offensive against the Anglo
Chinese forces in Northern Burma
may be intended as cleanup opera
ton to insure China's isolation
rather than a prelude to an inva-
sion of India. In this connection,
1t should be remembered that sew
eral other cleanup tasks remain,
notably in the Philippines, and also
in various parts of the Dutch Indies.
Meanwhile, Japan's far-flung con-
quests, no matter how successful,
have cost heavily in ships, lives and
materiel.
1t is thus arguable that Japan has
spread itself so thin that its full
striking power has been diminished
to point where at least a tempo
rary period of rest and consolidation
has become imperative. That was
clearly intimated by japanese jour-
nalist stationed in Germany, who
said in an interview that, with the
occupation of territory "a hundred
times as big as Japan herself, our
aims are approximately attained"
But if Japan stops its sustained
offensive, the high command has re-
linquished the initiative, which au-
tomatically passes to the United Ma
tions. That was precisely the warn
ing uttered by no less a parsonage
that Captain Hideo Haraide, official
spokesman of the japanese Navy,
who, in a remarkably frank article
published in the Toxic newspaper,
Yomiuri, stated that Japan seemed
to be "on the defensive while the
Anglo-American camp is on the Of
fensive." He said that the enemy
might expand his guerrilla tactics
in the air against Japan" Captain
Hiraide doubtless had in mind the
recent American task forces" which
blasted japanese bases, not only on
captured Wake Island but also on
Marcus Island, one Of the BONN
group which lies less than 1000 miles
from Japan itself.
The outspoken captain criticized
sharply overconfldent views that
Japan's conquests in the Philippines,
Malaga and the Dutch Indies had
endowed the empire with unlimited
riches which rendered it invincible.
He pointed out that those resources
had to be exploited and transported
to Japan. His emphasis on the trans
portation problem shows that the
japanese have a headache there
much like our own.
Nevertheless, Captain Hiraide did
not draw the conclusion that Japan's
growing difficulties necessitated de-
fensive policy. On the contrary, he
counseled vigorous action, asserting
that the japanese Navy was prepared
for the big task yet before it and
determined to erase enemy influence
from not only the Pacific but also the
Indian Ocean. Defense alone" he
concluded, cannot win victory.
Japan must therefore win the war
by offensive measures in all circum-
stances"
That is sound doctrine, which we
ourselves should take to heart. 1t
y,,ncf oy,o rroo, 60