The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-02-25

which we never fortified
Under the Washington treaty Of
1921 we had solemnly agreed not
to add 10 the fertilization Of the
Philippine islands. We had no safe
naval base there. so we could not
use the islands for extensive naval
operations.
PHILIPPINES ENCIRCLED
Immediately after this war
started, the Japanese forces moved
down on either side Of the Philip
pines to numerous points south
of them-thereby completely en-
circling the islands from north,
south. east and west.
II Is that complete enlightenment.
with control Of the air by japanese
land-based aircraft, which has pre-
vented US from sending substantial
reinforcements OF men and ma
terial TO the gallant defenders of
the Philippines. For 30 years il
has always been our strategy
strategy born OF necessity-that In
the event of a full scale attack
on the islands by Japan, we should
fight a delaying action. attempt
ing to retire slowly into Bataan
peninsula and Corregidor
We knew that the war as a
whole would have TO be fought and
won by process of attrition
against Japan itself. We knew all
along that. with out greater re-
sources. we could outbuild japan
and ultimately overwhelm her on
sea. on land and in the air. We
knew that, to obtain our objec-
tives. many varieties Of operations
would be necessary In areas other
than the Philippines.
Nothing that has occurred in
the past two months has caused
us TO revise this basic strategy
except that the defense put up by
General Macarthur has magnifi-
Gently exceeded the previous esti-
mates: and he and his men are
gaining eternal glory therefor.
JAPAN PAYING PRICE
MacArthur's army of Filipinos
and Americans. and the forces of
the United Nations In China, in
Burma and The Netherlands East
Indies. are all together fulfilling
the same essential task. They are
making japan pay an increasingly
terrible price for her ambitious at
tempts to seize control of the
whole Asiatic world. Every Japan
ese transport sunk off Java is
one less transport that they can
use to carry reinforcements to
their army opposing General Mac
Arthur in Luzon.
1t has been said that Japanese
gains in the Philippines were made
possible only by the success OF
their surprise attack on Pearl
Harbor. / tell you that this is not
SO.
Even II the attack had not
been made, your map will show
that IL would have been a hope.
less operation for us 10 send the
fleet To the Philippines through
thousands of miles OF ocean, while
all those island bases were under
the sole control Of the Japanese
The consequences of the attach
on Pearl Harbor-serious as they
were-have been wildly exsgger'
ated In other ways. These exag
gerations come originally from
Axis propsgandists: but they hsv.
been repeated. l regret TO say, b,
Americans In and out of public
life.
"WHISPERERS" DESPISED
You and / have the utmost con
tempt for Americans who, sincs
Pearl Harbor. have whispered Of
announced off the record" thai
there was no longer any Pacifi,
fleet-that the fleet was all SUM
or destroyed on December nth
that more than 1000 Of our plane,
were destroyed on the ground
They have suggested slyly thai
the government has withheld IN,
truth about casualties-that1 IL oi
II thousand men were killed a.
Pearl Harbor instead of the figure,
as officially announced. They hsv,
even served the enemy propagsnd
lists BY spreading the incredible
story that shiplosds Of bodies o
our honored American dead wer,
about TO arrive in New York hsr
Dor 10 be put in a common grave
Almost every Axis broadcast di
rectly quotes Americans who. b,
speech or in the press. maxi
damnaole misstAtements such a
these.
The American people realiz
that in many cases details Of mill
tary operations cannot be disclose,
until we are absolutely certail
that the announcement will no
give TO the enemy military infor
nation which he does not slresd,
possess.
POISON PEDDLERS IGNORED
Your government has unmis
taxable confidence in your sbilit
i 10 hear the u-orSt without finch