Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-09-02
Jap Moves
Foreshadow
An Offensive
Russia Probable Victim;
Face-Saving Needed
BY PAUL MALL0N

w astonishing that the Japs,
with all their artillery and
planes. chose 10 Withdraw from
ChuhSien. the largest air field in
China-the one we can now use
10 bomb Toxic.
The Chinese naturally claim n
victory AT that point, but their
announcements make il clear 10
the practiced eye that the Japs
failed 10 confront them with for
midable forces, and Toxic claims
the retreat was planned with
drawal.
What then makes this field
so desirable TO the Japs last May
that they started a new China
campaign-now not worth fight
ing for? Only one explanation
seems plausible. &.
The Japs must believe we will
shortly get airfields which are
even closer TO Japan. They must
he intending 10 attack Russia,
and open a new theater of OPP
eratinnS for themselves and for
us They must be Withdrawing
from China 10 strengthen their
forces on the Russian border.
Their only successful general,
YamaShita. is supposed TO be in
Manchuria now, looking over the
ground. While il may seem 10
he a little late in the year for
major operations so far north,
the Jap invasion of Manchukuo
was started in the same season
(Sept. Is, 1881 and fighting
continued through much of the
winter.
A Ii signs add up TO the con-
"A clusion that the Japs must
try a big new major blow some
where, if they have a blow left
in them.
The toes of their advance in
the South Seas have been
crushed.
In New Guinea, General Mac
Arthur worked ticker trick on
them. Several weeks ago. when
all the newsnen around his
Headquarters were moaning in
anguish because he had not been
furnished with power TO do any,
thing Macarthur was even then
building hospitals and bases to
support the attack, which his
secreted Australian troopers de-
livered with devastating surprise
upon Milne Bay, as soon as the
Japs occupied il last week
TOXIC tee-heed in triumph at
Il MacArthur's professed an
guish, but his purpose became
painfully plain TO them when the
AuSSies came out Of hiding and
annihilated their Milne forces.
Any one who knows Mac
Arthur's style could tell that he
was the personal author of that
long official communique issued
Sunday night, giving a full &C
count of the Solomon s | a n d
fray.
MACARTHUR made it plain
A'l the big toe Of the Jap adj
vance had been cut off in the
Solomons. Every cloud has now
been chased away from that en-
gagement. except the extent OF
our naval losses.
Mr. Roosevelt once idly called
the resultant attack only
reconnaissance" in force. but
the navy department announced
the Japs had transports with
them, and no one goes recon-
noitering with troops. In fact,
Macarthur disclosed a force of
900Swas landed on Guadalcanal
Island, and all of it met death
or capture.
This was clearly an effort by
the JapS to recapture the SOUTH
ern Solomons. and il failed, be-
cause our bombers knocked out
their only two aircraft carriers.
The Japs could not proceed
without air power, had 10 with
draw, leaving us in undisputed
control.
Any Pacific map will show you
our lines of supplies 10 Australia
have been cleared by this Solo,
mons success.
Coupled with the Jap loss Of
Milne Bay. the SolomonS success
also makes impossible the in
vasion of Australia on the
populous eastern side. The Japs
will have to get New Guinea. or
the Solomons, or both, for bases.
before invasion can be attempted
hereafter through the Coral Sea.
GUIDING principle OF the Jap
~ ancSe is facc-SaVing.
Authorities. who have the
South Seas area particularly in
mind, suspect the JapS will try
10 muster a larger naval in
vaSion force and 60 back into
the SolomonS and New Guinea.
Their second SolomonS attack.
however. showed they have little
naval strength available in that
quarter.
They arc particularly short on
rCraft carriers since we
blasted most OF this category
out of tho water al Midway.
d They cannot invade without car