Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-31

note that Jack David Lawrence.
Turcott did in a recent dispatch
from Australia, so it Is apparent
that the viewpoint of the CORE
spondents who come in contact with
the Army in Australia is very much
the same as that of the correspond
ents who mingle with the Navy in
Hawaii. 1t seems plausible that
these dispatches are based on con-
versations with men In the armed
services who are apprehensive lest
the Pacific be neglected as theater
of war.
Mr.. McQuaid says there are per-
sons in Hawaii who are talking in
terms Of war that may outlast
this decade, and he doubts whether
the American people are psyche
logically prepared for a war of such
a long duration.
THE conventional strategy"
writes Mr.. McQuaid, 'of stepping
stone approach to Toxic via the
myriad islands OF Melanesia, Micro
nesia and the Indies, involving
piecemeal reconquest of all the terri
tory bagged by the Japs in the first
months Of the war, Is still regarded
as theoretical possibility. Practi-
cally, this is now nearly everywhere
regarded as project demanding i'm
possible OUTLAWS of manpower and
material. Instead, observers here
are talking in terms OF the soft belly
Of Japan $50
Burma Action Necessary.
"The soft belly Of Japan is roughly
that area Of the Pacific lying be-
tween the japanese homeland and
the Asiatic coastline north Of Hang
chow. =
THE reconquest Of Burma and
Thailand and French Indo-C China
is an indispensable prerequisite to
such kicks in the Jap belly as our
Pacific leaders joyfully contemplate.
This means a huge land and air Of
fensive, the establishment of am
pie supply routes to China and sub
sequent large scale utilization of
Chinese manpower.
"Seapower would by no means
be idle In such an offensive d.. But
seapower's ultimate role will be
realized in great amphibious belly
kicking expeditions which can be
organized only after the China
coast has been cleared OF the Jap
scourge"
Do the American people know
what Is involved? Do the heads of
the various war agencies in Wash
ington realize the scope Of the Of
fensives being contemplated by the
strategy outlined? II so, is Amer
lean production being geared to the
coming strategy or is American off,
cial authority leaning too heavily on
the idea that once Hitler is licked
the Japanese will fall easy victims.
Japs May Capitalize on Gains.
All the information received from
sources that know the Japanese and
the whole Far Eastern situation is
to the contrary. 1t rather fortifies
the opinion that unless the Japa-
nese are aggressively handled this
year and next they may get such
q big head start as to make a long
war certain.
The Japanese themselves have
had an inferiority complex about
defeating the United States, but
since their conquests came with
such relative ease in the first part
OF 1912, they now think they can
pull at least compromise peace
or stalemate out Of the conflict.
What the Japanese do not know
Is the spirit Of determination of the
American people never to make any
compromise peace with Japan or
even to talk peace till the Toxic
government has collapsed and until
1t Is apparent that Japanese mill
tarism has been squelched.
1t is matter Of speculation
whether the American Government
authorities realize how deep-seated
is the war spirit against Japan
today throughout the United States
and how important the average man
regards the Pacific war.
British May Have Answer.
Why then, 1t may be asked, isn't
there on the part Of the Govern
ment here the same determination
to give to our Pacific forces the
weapons and materials needed to
strike blows now so as to prevent
Japan from entrenching herself be-
hind her conquered areas? The
answer may be that our British
friends do not see eye to eye with
us on the importance Of the Pacific
theater.
This would be surprising in view
Of the fact that the United States
Navy has made such heavy sacrifices
in order to protect Australia and
New Zealand and the South Pacific.
Sooner or later decisions Of great
importance must be made, and II
the rumors Of forthcoming visit
Of Prime Minister Churchill to
Washington are not true, they ought
to be true. For here is a paramount