Evening star., 1943-07-04

The attention OF the American people
Is focused on the dramatic developments
across the Atlantic and only perfunctory
interest Is shown In the Pacific theater
For some reason or other the Nation
seems to think that once Hitler has been
defeated peace will be restored in the
world
The principal reason this common be-
lief prevails in many sections of the
American public mind is found In the
fact that so many people are still think
ing in terms of the last war and sub
consciously believe that with the end Of
the European war and the reorganiZa-
ton Of Europe all our troubles will be
over.
There was no Pacific situation in 1918;
thus, many refuse to believe that the
Pacific war will really cause us many
headaches once the Nazis are conquered.
This idea of the predominant impor-
tance of the European front has been ac-
cepted, for political more than military
reasons, by high-ranking strategists of
the American forces. The military effort
we are now putting forth in Europe is
the consequence of that strategy.
1t is true that in the Pacific the Jap
anese appear determined to maintain
only what they have achieved so far and
have abandoned the idea of an invasion
of Australia or an attack-except possibly
some costly nuisance raids-against the
West Coast.
Build Up Defenses.
After the Japs' three disastrous at
tempts to reoccupy Guadalcanal and take
Port Moresby. it has become evident to
Gen. Macarthur, our commander in
chief in the Southwest Pacific, that we
need have no fear of another Japanese
major offensive. But, while it is likely
that the Japs have abandoned plans for
an offensive in the Pacific. they are per-
fecting their defenses and making i'm
pregnable the territories they have taken
from the United States, Britain and the
Netherlands.
There was time in the not distant
past when the American high command
visualized the possibility of reducing
Japan by the conquest of the key islands
In the West Pacific. But as time goes
on and we are compelled to concentrate
our main effort in the Atlantic and the
Mediterranean, 1t becomes evident that
an offensive will be extremely difficult
In the Pacific area If it is delayed until
Hitler is defeated.
1t will become practically impossible
II Hitler holds out, say about IL or 18
months.
The japanese are reported to have only
3 limited naval force in the Pacific at
present. Their best and most modern
units are in home waters. The reason
for this is believed to be that Toxic is
taking all the precautions in case its
European allies are defeated.
The military leaders of Japan are
aware that the position of Germany and
Italy is far from brilliant, but they ale
confident that the Nazis will fight to the
bitter end and inflict severe losses on the
Allies before they are overcome. Funda-
mentally Japan does not care great
deal what happens to Hitler and Musso-
lini so long as they can consolidate their
own empire. They believe that very
strongly fortified Japan, backed by a
powerful modern navy and an adequate
air force, will be in the drivers seat at
the end of the European war and will be
In position to offer a negotiated peace.
Japs Don't Quit.
The alternative, the military leaders
will say, will be to crush Japan, asserting
that the Allies know such goal will be
more difficult and complex to attain than
Sofootjno tho Italians nd 20
In all our encounters with the Japa-
nese in the last few months, their stub
bornness and decision not to surrender
was obvious. The mo surrender" doc
trine is firmly embedded in the minds of
the japanese soldiers and officers. 1t has
been proved at Attu and New Guinea.
The operations of the American-Aust
liam forces against Buna have received
little publicity, although the troops in
volved have written another glorious
page in American history.
The intelligence services had gathered
from natives and reconnaissance flights
information that the japanese forces de-
Tending that area did not exceed 5000
men, protected by concrete Notifications
lllc dltdCk WdS IIldue WIFI WIdL was
believed to have been a much superior
Allied force.
Buna was captured and no fewer than
$4,000 japanese were buried by our men
after the conquest. The number of pris-
oners was 40 men and two officers. About
30 men were Koreans or Formosans be-
longing to labor battalions. One of the
officers walked out from his foxhole with
his hands raised and shouted, Come on,
fellows. am through with this damned
war I surrender" He was an American
born japanese who had been educated
at university in the State Of Wash
ington.
Similar stories can be told about every
one Of the battles in which Americans
and japanese have been engaged. Amer
lean soldiers who have the misfortune
of falling into the hands of the Japa-