Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-12-05
Decisive Part in War Played
By About Efforts of i. S.
By Constantine Broom.

Two years ago, as Sundays 60, the
overwhelming mass of the American
people still believed. before noon, that
war was far away and that this country
was as immune from attack as the ocean
was from being drained.
1t was shortly after pm when those
who had settled down comfortably to
listen to their favorite radio programs
were rudely awakened to the stark
reality that we had been attacked by
the Japanese, who had caused serious
damage to our fleet at Pearl Harbor."
The extent of the damage was not re-
vealed for long time.
The people Of the United States took
the war In stride. They laid aside
everything else-except, In some quar-
tiers, politics-and made war their princi-
pal business.
America has done more than any other
nation In the world in this short space
OF time. The country was completely I'M
prepared for war. The Army existed in
name only. Our aviation was lamentably
tense, had been badly crippled by the
shattering Japanese attack.
We were lucky even in our direst hours.
The Japanese were satisfied with
victory which was relatively insignif-
cant. They did not exploit it, but went
out Immediately to conquer their South
Pacific empire. 1t can now be revealed
that had the Toxic militarists ordered
several transports with troops-not more
than two divisions-to stand by and at
tempt to land in Hawaii, they could have
done the job with little trouble.
Short Of Ammunition.
Our foremost base in the Pacific had
defenses, but they we're not on the alert.
There was no ammunition for the guns
or Tor the men who were garrisoning
that fortress to offer long resistance
to the enemy. The men would have
fought with the same valance as the
defenders OF Wake: they would have
given their lives to protect the West
Coast, but 1T is questionable how long
Dayonets could have resisted japanese
effort as strong as the one made later
in the Philippines.
In two years the American people
have done an unprecedented amount
OF work. The Germans, the Italians,
the Japanese and the Russians had
prepared for war for many years. The
French, who had been tagging behind,
believing like ourselves in political
formulas rather than in preparedness,
were defeated in so days.
The British had a narrow escape, but
even today, although they have been at
war for four years, they are nowhere
as well prepared for war as we are. We
coated brand-new Army, a new avia-
ton and built up our feet, making it
the worlds greatest in "a months.
In the past IL months We have become
sufticiently prepared to enable our mill
tary leaders to change from a defensive
to an offensive strategy in Europe, the
main theater of operations.
The heads Of our armed forces and
Industry have done splendid lob.
Whether the strategy adopted by Presi-
dent Roosevelt and Prime Minister
Churchill to direct our main military
EFFORT toward Europe instead OF the
Pacific was wise is a matter which can
not be determined now We must wait
until the war is over to form any
definite Judgment.
Next Year Should End Nazix.
At the first military conference in
washington between the American
President and the British Prime Min
lister it was agreed that we should at
tempt to hold as best we could the
enemy in the Pacific, while the COM
olned forces of the United States, Brit
ain and Russia would attempt to DESTROY
the Axis in Europe.
SO far, We have disposed of the Ital-
ians. The war against the Nazis is nro.
ceedlng successfully and there is every
indication that unless some unexpected
political development occurs, 1914 will
see the end OF the German military
power
In the Pacific We are doing more than
holding our own. But 1t would be a
mistake to believe that our important
successes have assured us OF an easy
victory against the Nipponese. Quite the
contrary. These operations have been
costly in men and war material and we
have not yet met the real japanese
military and naval power.
But while on the whole the military