Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1942-01-23
FRIDAY, JANUARY %. 1912
ALLIED POSITION IN FAR EAST

foreign correspondent writing Life tells of discussion
personal observation the field the officer declared he
vnced that British soldier match for Japanese
Unfortunately, he added, there eleven Japanese
This little anecdoe accurately describes the Allied position
in the Far East So far the quality of troops concerned
we have every right to be proud General American
Filipino forces have performed miracles in fighting delaying
on which has been immensely costly to the the face
OF overwhelming odds of both and equipment The exploits
Of less than 400 marines with handful of planes and at
Japanese shpsoWa great numbers of aircraft and took
terrific toll Of the enemys has already become epic
But flesh and blood do
the spirit Within and in the endhe weight Of man-power and
machinepoWer must win the victory In the Far East
simply inferior force and that the whole story the
and the British have suffered.
What we are striving for as result is time Time to pro
duce adequate instruments wartime bat
tefrntstme to create and perfect aembrasve plan for
inadequate renforcemens Luzon or any
where else would be utet would possibly dss
patton and waste of efforts and Many people
may have thought that MacArth stand useesstha fine
soldiers were dying in battle which could not be But
ground they gain and that Macarthur stand
fight in itself military achievement that play
pOrtant part in the eventual winning of the
fighting the favor of the United
Nations that Germans are not carrying on
strategic retreat from Russia Correspondents who have
tanks munitions food and other supplies left behind intact
by the fleeing Nazi Hitler certainly did not plan that The
German Press Chief Dietrich early October totally
stroyed an effective fighting forcehas produced rsate
miracle 1t has turned the proud German divisions dorga
ed routed remnants OF oncerea Late reports that
the Germans trying to muster the occupied
TONS to make for the appalling toll the Russians have taken
Hitler be able to make these armies his
bidding but he hardly nfuse them with fighting spirit
The Chinese always fine soldiers making splendid of
the materials of sent them by Britain and this country Great
of land have been eed from the invader Chinese
erals tell of almost incredible Japanese casualties And Chinese
forces aiding in the defense of Singapore.
In Africa Naz General Romme escaped with of his
force from Lydia with the aid of sandstom But the British
have the territory firmly hand and the great bulk the Ger
tank divisions have been destroyed captured In the long
this victory be the most important Allied
far Many expert thinks control of Africa
ally prove the key to the winning of the entire
In the Battle of the Atlantic British shipping losses remain
low The American British and naval patrols work
far better than they did before Destruction of Naz u
boats has been heavy.
The battle which must be that of the American pro-
ducon front The Presidents for
duon laid down his State of the Union speech
sally approved But convinced that be done
the time scheduled unless the defense setup overaued with
of ability and courage placed in supreme command Di
of responsibility has made for redape confusion And
that cannot be permitted to continue