Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-10

view. From statements made
before the outbreak OF war by
high japanese militarists, there
is reason to believe the Japanese
would be entirely satisfied with
negotiated peace permitting
them to hold the areas they have
taken.
Negotiated Peace May Be Aim.
The japanese may be fighting
and planning with that end in
view-to bring about stalemate
resulting in a negotiated peace
which would give them time to
organize their next drive toward
an ultimate goal Of world con-
quest.
The current fighting in the
Pacific does not Immediately
threaten any Of Japans impor-
tant bases or key conquered posi-
tons. Both the Solomons and
New Guinea are many hundreds
OF miles from the Netherlands
Indies, Borneo, the Philippines,
Malaga and the other thickly
populated and wealthy areas where
the japanese are extracting raw
materials and attempting to unite
the native peoples under the slo-
gan Asia for the Asiatics."
The Japanese believe that,
given sufficient time. they can
succeed in mobilizing the vast
resources and manpower of Asia.
At present, they are enjoying
more or less Of a breathing spell
In the conquered areas, and the
only pressure that we can apply
there now is through submarine
attacks on shipping. plus occa-
sional air raids from Australia
on the Netherlands Indies.
Prior to Pearl Harbor, many
japanese officers told me that II
war came with the United States
1t would be part Of their plan to
fight desperately to hold every
inch of territory that they might
seize. They commended a long,
costly war would discourage the
people of the United States and
said they would make us pay
dearly for every inch of territory
that We took.
Japs Equipped for New Drives.
That is why they kept pouring
ships and planes into the Guadal-
canal sink hole" and why they
kept fighting almost to the last
man for the jungle towns of
Papua under conditions which
AS the Toxic radio now admits
were pathetic" and tragic" for
their troops.
Since they were turned back at
Midway last June, the japanese
have made no major offensive
gestures beyond their unsuccess-
full efforts to retake Guadalcanal.
They still have the ships, planes
and men for further drives.
The number Of men Of military
age in Japan is estimated at be-
tween 100000 and 100000
Of whom some ,500,000-less
casualties in the present war
are front-line troops. An addi-
tional 100000 men are in uni
form, and these forces have been
supplemented by native armies"
and police forces in the captured
areas.
At least a quarter-million and,
perhaps, twice that many Japa-
nese troops are kept on perma-
nent station in Manchukuo fac
ing the Red Far Eastern Army
. across the border Of Siberia, watt
ing for the war that nearly every
Japanese believes Is inevitable.
I have talked to hundreds OF
Japanese officers and have never
yet met one who did not believe
that Japan would fight a second
war against Russia.
However, under present circum-
stances, it may be the Russians
rather than the japanese who
will choose the time for the war
to start.
Where to Go Next Is Problem.
The problem Of whereof any
where-to go next Is probably
being discussed day and night by
the Imperial War Council in
Toxic, and the decision may be
to try to fight out the war along
present lines. II the Japanese
had been able to sustain the
momentum OF their original
drives and swept on into India,
Australia and New Zealand, they
might have captured those coun-
tries last summer.
Today, the situation IS differ
ent American troops and planes
face them everywhere, and the
Japanese have had several costly
lessons In the dangers Of moving
a seaborne force into waters con-
trolled by enemy planes.
China is the one remaining
soft spot and that may be where
the Japanese will concentrate
next.
Spokesman for China have
warned us that the military stu
alton there is discouraging: The
army desperately needs equip
ment, the country Is hungry ana
poverty stricken.
Japan may try to take ad-
vantage OF this situation by
intensifying her peace drive, or
by military drives aimed at cap
turing the air bases from which
the United States might bomb
Japan's cities and spark land
offensives by Chinese troops.
When we begin our offensive
in the Pacific. we will face the
same problem that Japan does Of