The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1942-02-19
WNU Service. 1343 Fl Street. NV.
Washington, d. c.

Washington, ID. {.
By the time these words are print
ed Singapore may have fallen. Jap
anese bombers may be ra!dmg
Australia and Japanese ships may
be in Australian waters Even so,
according to the sober prediction OF
those in diplomatic and official cir
Giles who are able to look al the war
map without Wishful thinking. the
tide may still be turned against the
japanese if one condition remains
the same. That condition is that the
Urjted Nations continue to hold key
territory in that slim crescent OF Is
lands, the Netherlands Indies which
form a barrier between the CONT
nents of Asia and Australia.
There are two reasons why these
experts believe this Malaysian bar
rier may be held in spite OF Jap
anese gains north and south Of 1t
First, as one military man put it, by
rule of thumb Japan has already
stretched her supply lines so far
from her home bases that they may
be expected to snap in vital spots
Second, because of successful delay
ing actions now going on. time is
fighting on the side of the United
Nations, time for sufficient re-
endorsements to arrive, especially
from the United States, which will
snatch air superiority away from the
Japanese and thus affect the tide OF
battle.
Japan has so far extended her
self. experts agree. that a powerful
blow might topple her over back
wards. General Macarthur has held
a Japanese army of 200, 900 men in
the Philippines. Huge land, air and
sea forces have been drawn into the
siege Of SINGAPORE. Japanese troops
are fighting in Burma. 5000 miles
from the Manchukuoan border. They
are spread fan-wise from Sumatra
in the west 1000 miles along the
equator to the Solomon islands be-
You'd New Guinea.
United Nations Barrier
It is the barrier the United Ma
tons have established from Sumatra
to the Solomon islands. with Java
as the key point, upon which Japan
may break her curved scimitar Of
offense.
Japan has already penetrated
scattered islands in some places
in Borneo, New Guinea, in the Cele-
hes and in the Australian inundated
islands in the Bismarck archipelago.
But there r many dents in her
sword already-more than 81 ships
lost in the first few days Of the bat
tie in the Macassar straits. which
lie between Borneo and the Celebes.
Many more such losses will be If.
reparable.
Successful. although scattered at
tacks by American and Dutch
planes and submarines and surface
ships are taking their toll. And ever
though Japanese units may secure
some island bases near enough to
bomb the Australian coast, and
some ships are able to slip through
to raid coastal towns. the sword
hand will be badly strained. The
tough, well-fortiied, well-supplied
island of Java can deaden her blows.
And if enough other bases for allied
bombers and subs remain from
which the far-flung Nipponese invad-
ers can be h%arassed, her course
westward and southwark can be
checked.
For the United Nations fighting at
the Malaysian barrier it is simply
a problem Of hanging on. For the
United States it is a problem of pro-
ducing and delivering the goods.
Against us is first our late start
in war production; second, the great
distance to the ~front-about six
weeks from loading to unloading;
and third. lack of ships.
Into High Gear
We cannot make up lost time but
it is agreed that Donald (Battling)
Nelson and his war production board
will keep US in high gear from now
on.
As for the ships, by June we will
be producing them at the rate of two
q day-cargo ships. AS for the
precious cargoes. fighting planes
which have to be shipped-they are
being turned out in rapidly increas-
ing numbers. The figures are secret.
1 have it on good authority that it
would take only 1000 more planes to
give us superiority in the whole Pa
cifc. But far less than that are
needed to establish superiority in
the present fighting area since
Japan must keep a large air force
at home for defense Of her own
cities.
As for the tanks and men, these