Evening star., 1942-06-12
New Front Key to Allied Hopes
! For Knockout Blow This Year
Fresh U. S. Forces
Expected to Go to
Pacific Points
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PEARL HARBOR, June 12.-
Speedy American reinforce
ments may be sent to Western
Pacific bases and all Pacific key
points, it is predicted, as result
OF the battle OF Midway.
The Japanese defeat is felt to
have removed. at least for the pre-
dictable future, any threat that the
mainland of the United States
might be invaded.
Therefore. it is believed such
forces which may have been held on
the West Coast of the United States
as defense against possible inva-
sion have now been freed and can
be sent to areas where they are
more urgently needed.
The battle of Midway showed the
effectiveness of aircraft in coastal
defense to such an extent that any
area with sufficient aerial protection
may feel reasonably safe from inva-
sion
Such defense forces should include
dive -bombers. torpedo planes, fight
ers and heavy bombers.
Followed Same Tactics.
In both the Coral Sea and the
Midway battles, both the Japanese
and Americans followed the same
attacking tactics, sending in first
the dive -bombers and torpedo planes
against the aircraft carriers. which
are the most important target.
The vital job in such action is to
knock out the carriers, and the
Americans successfully did this in
both battles. The dive bombers and
torpedo planes went in so close they
couldn't miss the enemy carriers.
The japanese found there is no way
for a surface vessel to evade de-
termined dive bomber and torpedo
attacks.
Then, with the enemy carriers
either sunk or out Of commission
and the enemy ships deprived of
fighter protection, our heavy bomb
ers attacked and slammed the re-
naming enemy ships fleeing from
the Midway area.
For this follow-up bombing, long
range. land-based planes are de-
siraL'e. in addition to the American
Nays patrol-bombers, which have
proved invaluable for locating the
enemy fleets.
OF course, If the Midway battle
had gone the other way and the
Japanese had sunk our carriers anG
knocked out Midway, the Hawaiian
Islands probably would be fighting
an invasion today.
Must Face Similar Problem,
When the United States goes on
the offensive and starts moving
overseas against the Japanese, we
will face problem similar to that
which confronted the japanese at
Midway-to knock out the enemy
airforce.
Then the issue will depend on the
courage of our airmen and the skill
Of our aircraft builders.
The Midway battle definitely has
eased the pressure against this area
and probably against all the South
ern and Western Pacific, but the
men who did the fighting confirm
that the Japanese are still tough
enemy and that We have long way
to 90 before flnal victory.
Japan's offensive strength has
been definitely reduced. but air
planes have proved such a strong
weapon, both extensively and de-
fensively, that even if the entire
Japanese fleet eventually is smashed
the United States will still have q
tough fight on its hands when it be-
gins attacking Japanese-held areas
defended by Japanese aircraft.
Airplanes-aS Midway showed
can change the entire strategic stu.
alton in the few minutes which il
takes to deal a death blow to ar
enemy carrier.
Possibility of Russo-Jap War.
What our strategists think will bt
Japan's next probable move is nat
urally a military secret, but much
interest is centered in the possibility
of Russo-Japanese war, with some
informed quarters believing the
japanese thrusts at Midway anc
Alaska were the prelude to an at.
tack on Russia.
If they have decided to attack
Siberia, the Japanese have had suf'
ficient time to withdraw their as.
sault forces from the Southwestern
Pacific, leaving only garrison troop!
to dig in and solidify defenses il
those areas.
Both the Japanese and Russian!
know their present peace is only 6
matter of convenience to both side!
and that it will last only until such
time as either feels it cannot wal
longer to attack. Some informed
quarters believe that for Japan thai
time is drawing near.